INFLATE

(MAKE LARGER) [verb] [T] - to make something larger or more importantThe numbers attending the rally were inflated by the press.They inflated their part in the rescue the more they told the story.He has an inflated idea of his own importance/opinion of himself (= He thinks he is more important than he is).They artificially inflated the value of the house so they could 'reduce' it and make people think it was a bargain.An inflated price/income is one that is higher than people think is reasonable.