Word/Phrase: exaggerated

Associations

The word "exaggerated" means something that is made to seem larger, greater, or more important than it really is. It often describes statements or actions that are overstated or not true to reality. People use this word when they think someone is stretching the truth.

• "He told an exaggerated story about how he ran a marathon." (In this example, the person's story may have included details that were not true or were made to seem more impressive than they actually were.)
• "Her reaction to the news was exaggerated, as she cried for a long time." (Here, 'exaggerated' implies that her emotional response was stronger than what seemed reasonable for the situation.)
• "The movie's special effects were exaggerated, making everything look unrealistic." (In this case, the effects were enhanced to a point where they did not reflect real-life appearances.)

A common synonym for "exaggerated" is "overstated." The difference is that "overstated" more specifically implies that a fact or statement has been presented with more importance than it deserves, while "exaggerated" can refer to both statements and behaviors.

Substitution

Instead of "exaggerated," you could use:

• "overblown" – This suggests that something has been made to seem more significant or impressive than it is, similar to "exaggerated" but often used in a more critical context.
• "magnified" – This means to make something seem bigger or more important, but it can also imply just a focus or emphasis rather than outright falsehood.
• "inflated" – This means to increase something to an unrealistic level, often used in financial or economic contexts.

Each of these alternatives can slightly change the meaning, so choosing the right one depends on the context of what you want to express.