exaggerate
gb/ɪɡzˈæd͡ʒɚˌeɪt/ us/ɪɡzˈæd͡ʒɚˌeɪt/
B1
英语
~ 8500
义项
0 个义项
动词
B1
action
1
make something seem bigger than it is
to say that something is bigger, better, worse, or more important than it really is
用法模式：
to exaggerate [something]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes use "exaggerate" when they actually mean "lie". "Exaggerate" means changing the size or degree of something, often starting from a true fact, while "lie" means saying something that is not true at all. Another mistake is using it transitively when they only need the intransitive form, e.g. saying "He exaggerates it" when native speakers often just say "He exaggerates."
近义词
overstate (Very close in meaning, slightly more formal and often used in careful or written language.)
|
embellish (Suggests adding extra, often imaginative details to make a story more interesting, not just bigger or worse.)
|
inflate (Often used about numbers, prices, or achievements being made to seem higher than they are.)
反义词
understate (Means saying something is smaller, less serious, or less important than it really is.)
|
downplay (Focuses on making something seem less important or serious, especially on purpose.)
搭配
tend to exaggerate
|wildly exaggerate
|grossly exaggerate
|slightly exaggerate
|exaggerate the truth
|exaggerate a problem
主题
communication
|opinions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
例句
- He tends to exaggerate his achievements when talking to new people.
- The article clearly exaggerates the danger in order to attract more readers.
- She exaggerated the size of the crowd to make the event sound more successful.
- I’m not exaggerating when I say it was the best meal of my life.
- Reports of the damage were greatly exaggerated in the early news coverage.
学习者例句
- He likes to exaggerate his stories to make people laugh.
- She exaggerated the price and said the shoes cost a lot more.
- The movie exaggerates the facts and is not fully true.
- Please don’t exaggerate; it was just a small problem.
- I think you are exaggerating how hard the test was.
动词
B2
action
2
make an effect stronger
to make something seem stronger or more clear than it really is
用法模式：
[something] exaggerates [something]
常见错误：
Learners may think this sense only applies to people speaking, but it is also common with things like light, weather, or conditions (e.g. "Stress exaggerates the symptoms"). They also sometimes use "increase" where "exaggerate" is better, when the focus is on how something looks or seems, not on its actual amount.
近义词
intensify (Focuses on making something stronger or more severe, without the idea of inaccuracy or distortion.)
|
amplify (Often used for sound or signals, but also for making an effect or feeling stronger.)
反义词
diminish (Means making something smaller, weaker, or less noticeable.)
搭配
exaggerate the effect
|exaggerate the problem
|exaggerate the differences
|exaggerate the symptoms
|conditions that exaggerate
|factors that exaggerate
主题
science
|health
|art
|communication
|core_vocabulary
例句
- Poor lighting exaggerated the shadows on his face.
- Stress can exaggerate the symptoms of the disease.
- The camera angle exaggerates the size of the building.
- The dry air exaggerated her cough and made it sound worse.
- The design deliberately exaggerates the curve of the roof.
学习者例句
- The strong light exaggerates every small line on her skin.
- Cold weather can exaggerate pain in your hands.
- This mirror exaggerates the size of my nose.
- The loud music exaggerates the noise in the room.
- The close-up shot exaggerates his eyes.
动词
C1
action
3
overdo expressions or movements
to make your voice, face, or body move in a very big or strong way so it does not look natural
用法模式：
to exaggerate [a movement / an expression / an accent]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes confuse this with simply "act" or "move" and forget that "exaggerate" here always implies an unnatural, over-strong way of doing something. It is not used for normal or small changes in movement or expression.
近义词
overact (Used mainly about actors who show emotions in a way that is too strong or not natural.)
|
overdo (Broad verb meaning to do something too much; here it highlights making expressions or actions too strong.)
反义词
underplay (Means to show less emotion or expression than is normal or expected, especially in acting.)
搭配
exaggerate facial expressions
|exaggerate an accent
|exaggerate a movement
|exaggerate a gesture
|exaggerate a reaction
|exaggerate features
主题
art
|entertainment
|emotions
|arts_entertainment
|communication
例句
- The comedian exaggerated his accent to make the story funnier.
- Cartoons often exaggerate body shapes to create a humorous effect.
- She exaggerated her surprised expression so the audience in the back could see it clearly.
- The actor was criticized for exaggerating every gesture on stage.
- In this style of dance, performers deliberately exaggerate their arm movements.
学习者例句
- The child exaggerated his sad face to get more candy.
- She exaggerated her smile when she saw the camera.
- In the play, they exaggerate every movement.
- The cartoon exaggerates his big nose.
- He exaggerated his hurt leg and walked very slowly.
语法
词典原形
exaggerate
IPA
GB/ɪɡzˈæd͡ʒɚˌeɪt/
US/ɪɡzˈæd͡ʒɚˌeɪt/
音节与重音
ex - ag - ger - ate （4 个音节）
Stress on 2nd syllable (ag)
词形变化
Verb
- Base: exaggerate
- 3rd Person Singular: exaggerates
- Present Participle: exaggerating
- Past: exaggerated
词族
Forms
exaggerates
verb
exaggerating
verb
exaggerated
verb
Core family
exaggeration
noun B2
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unexaggerated
adjective
understate
verb B2
Advanced or less common
exaggeratedly
adverb
相关表达
don't exaggerate
1/dˈoʊnt ɪɡzˈæd͡ʒɚˌeɪt/
fixed phrase
informal
telling someone not to exaggerate
used to tell someone that they are making something sound bigger, better, or worse than it really is
例句
- Oh, come on, don’t exaggerate—it was just a small scratch.
- You’re saying you waited for three hours? Don’t exaggerate; it was more like thirty minutes.
exaggerate the importance of
1/ɪɡzˈæd͡ʒɚˌeɪt ðə ɪmpˈɔɹtəns əv/
fixed phrase
overstate how important something is
to say that something is more important than it really is
例句
- We should not exaggerate the importance of this single study.
- It is easy to exaggerate the importance of money and forget other values.