ex ‧ ag ‧ ge ‧ rat ‧ ed /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtəd, ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtɪd/ BrE AmE adjective
1 . if something is exaggerated, it is described as better, larger etc than it really is:
The revenue figures may be slightly exaggerated.
grossly/greatly/wildly exaggerated
The danger had been greatly exaggerated.
2 . an exaggerated sound or movement is emphasized to make people notice:
an exaggerated sigh
He made an exaggerated bow.
He spoke with an exaggerated New York accent.
—exaggeratedly adverb
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ greatly/highly exaggerated (=by a large amount)
The union put the figure at 5,000, but we believe this has been greatly exaggerated.
▪ vastly exaggerated (=by a very large amount)
Bates told the children vastly exaggerated stories of his wartime exploits.
▪ grossly exaggerated (=by a very large amount, and in a way that is wrong)
The damage the animals did to crops was grossly exaggerated.
▪ wildly exaggerated (=by a very large amount, in a way that is not at all realistic)
Wildly exaggerated reports began appearing in the press.
▪ slightly exaggerated
Roger spoke with a slightly exaggerated American accent.
▪ deliberately exaggerated (=in a way that is intended or planned)
She blinked twice in a deliberately exaggerated gesture of surprise.