Making something seem bigger, worse, or more dramatic than it really is, often to get attention or make a point stronger.
From Latin 'exaggerare' (ex- + aggerare, 'to heap up'). Literally means 'to heap up' or 'to pile on,' describing adding more and more to make something seem larger.
The word literally means 'to heap up'—when you exaggerate, you're piling on extra material like a truck dumping an extra load of dirt, which is exactly why exaggerations feel 'heaped' or overdone.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.