ex ‧ ag ‧ ge ‧ ra ‧ tion /ɪɡˌzædʒəˈreɪʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
a statement or way of saying something that makes something seem better, larger etc than it really is OPP understatement :
It would be an exaggeration to say that we were close friends.
It is no exaggeration to say that everyone will be affected by the new policy.
The situation can be described, without exaggeration, as disastrous.
slight/gross exaggeration
That sounds like a slight exaggeration.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ a great exaggeration (=by a large amount)
To suggest that the company is facing bankruptcy is a great exaggeration.
▪ a gross exaggeration (=very great and untrue)
The figures in this report are a gross exaggeration.
▪ a wild exaggeration (=an extreme exaggeration that is not at all realistic)
He claims to be 120 years old, but that's is clearly a wild exaggeration.
▪ a slight exaggeration (=small)
I think that saying the animals are almost extinct is a slight exaggeration.
■ phrases
▪ be a bit of an exaggeration informal (=be a slight exaggeration)
It's a bit of an exaggeration to say he's handsome.
▪ it's no exaggeration to say that ... (=used to emphasize that something is really true)
It's no exaggeration to say that residents live in fear of the local gangs.
▪ without exaggeration (=telling the truth and not exaggerating)
The men spoke without exaggeration about their ordeal.
▪ somebody is prone to exaggeration (=somebody often exaggerates)
At that age, children are prone to exaggeration.