French word

exagérer

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛgzaʒeʁe/

Meaning

  • verbexaggerate

Example

Il exagère toujours quand il parle de son travail.

He always exaggerates when he talks about his work.

Illustration for exagérer (exaggerate)

More examples

Elle a tendance à exagérer ses réussites.

She tends to exaggerate her successes.

Core concept

A story piled higher and higher with extra size, intensity, or importance until it rises above the facts.

Common phrases

  • exagérer les faits

    exaggerate the facts

  • exagérer la situation

    exaggerate the situation

  • exagérer un peu

    exaggerate a little

Similar words

mentir: Intentionally stating something untrue as if it were fact.
enjoliver: Making a story seem better than the facts warrant.

Definition in French

Présenter ou raconter quelque chose en le rendant plus grand, plus intense ou plus important que ce qu'il est réellement.

Word origin

French exagérer comes from Latin exaggerare, formed from ex- and aggerare, meaning to heap up or raise like a mound.

Usage tips

  • In the standalone phrase "Il exagère !", the verb can signal that a claim is excessive, with context showing whether the tone is amused or critical.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word