Aggrandize
/əˈɡrændɪz/
verbC2
Definition
Aggrandize means to increase the power, status, or importance of a person or thing. This can happen by making something seem greater than it really is or by actually increasing its influence or size. People often use it when someone tries to make themselves or their achievements look better.
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See It in Action
To increase the power or status of someone or something
- •The company aggrandized itself by buying smaller competitors.
- •Politicians often aggrandize their achievements during campaigns.
- •The general tried to aggrandize his role in the victory to gain more influence.
To make something appear greater or more important than it really is
- •She aggrandized her role in the project to impress her boss.
- •The story was aggrandized by the media to attract more viewers.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "aggrandize" like "make bigger," but not just physically—it's about making someone's importance or power bigger in people's minds.
- ✓Picture a small hill being built up into a tall mountain by adding more earth and rocks.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone talks a lot about their success to seem more important or powerful.
- ✓Sounds like "a-GRAND-ize" → Imagine making something GRAND (big, impressive) even if it was small before.
- ✓Think of a king wearing a big crown and fancy clothes to look more powerful than he really is.
- ✓NOT like "grow" (natural size increase), aggrandize often means making something seem bigger by words or actions.
- ✓NOT like "honest praise" (simple truth), aggrandize can involve exaggeration or making things look better than they are.
Try Other Words
- •Magnify: to make something seem larger or more important (Use when focusing on making something look bigger or more serious)
- •Exaggerate: to say something is bigger or better than it really is (Use when the increase is not true or is overstated)
- •Boost: to increase or improve something (Use in more general or positive contexts)
- •Enhance: to improve or make better (Use when the increase is about quality or value)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "ag-" (variant of "ad-," meaning "to" or "toward") + root "grand" (meaning big or great) + suffix "-ize" (to make or cause)
- •Etymology: From Latin "aggrandizare," meaning to make grand or greater
- •Historical development: First used in English in the 17th century, often in political or social contexts to describe increasing power or status
- •Modern usage: Used to describe actions that increase importance, power, or reputation, sometimes with a sense of exaggeration or self-promotion
Reflect & Connect
•How can aggrandizing yourself or others affect relationships and trust?
•In what situations might aggrandizing be seen as positive or negative?
Fill in the blanks
1.Leaders sometimes aggrandize their achievements to ___ their influence or power.
2.When a story is aggrandized, it is often ___ to seem more exciting or important.
3.Aggrandize is different from simply grow because it focuses on ___ or power, not physical size.
4.She tried to aggrandize her role in the project, but the facts showed her contribution was ___.
5.Politicians may aggrandize their success during campaigns to ___ voters’ support.
6.The media can aggrandize events by ___ details to attract more attention.
7.To aggrandize usually means to make something seem bigger or better than it ___ is.