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aggrandizement

aggrandizement

6 9.9
The act of giving more power or wealth to someone, often unfairly
  • noun
  • /əˈɡræn.dɪ.zaɪ.mənt/
  • Formal
translation icon : agrandamiento
  • The walls that symbolized the kings' desperate attempt to satisfy the need for land, security, and self-aggrandizement went unmanned.
  • self-aggrandizement
  • personal aggrandizement
  • own aggrandizement

Are you doing this for self aggrandizement or something else?

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Examples

  • Are you doing this for self aggrandizement or something else?

  • Hun Sen has been skillful in the aggrandizement of his own political power.

    Academic text (2002)
  • And here in your field, as you said, self aggrandizement is a popular practice.

  • I'm certain he grabbed my witness for his personal aggrandizement.

  • The chief worry of those times was the aggrandizement of the legislatures.

    Academic text (2001)
  • His displays of self-aggrandizement through fancy clothes and impressive cars make their mark on young men like John.

    Academic text (1992)
  • In Latin America, resources were siphoned off to the mercantilist aggrandizement of the colonizers.

    Academic text (1993)
  • War and the ensuing aggrandizement of state power is a permanent project, the state's Telos and justification.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Relationships at the heart move beyond competitiveness and self-aggrandizement to become selfless and magnanimous.

    Academic text (1994)
  • His relentless drive for aggrandizement often led him to overshadow his colleagues.

Synonyms

buildup
vsaggrandizement
14 4.1

A lot of excited publicity to make people like or want something

is broader, covering power and wealth increases beyond mere publicity
elevation
vsaggrandizement
12 4.1

Raising someone to a higher job or rank

is similar but implies growth that may be excessive or unjustified
glorification
vsaggrandizement
3 6.5

Giving great praise and honor to a person or thing

focuses on boosting power, wealth, or status often unjustifiably
glamorization
vsaggrandizement
  • US
1 7.2

Making something seem more attractive or exciting than it really is

focuses on real increases in power, wealth, or importance not only image
status seeking
vsaggrandizement
1 5.3

Wanting to be seen as important and respected by other people

is the process that raises power or reputation excessively

Antonyms

4 6.7

A decrease in size, strength or importance

Compounds

4 9.9

Trying to make yourself seem more important or powerful than you are

How Important

aggrandizement
  • Formal
6 9.9
expansion
241 3.3
to rise
154 2.7
growth
1.6
increase
713 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

aggrandizement = aggrandize (semi-transparent) = aggrandize + ment

Forming a noun with '-ment' from the verb 'aggrandize' is a regular and predictable derivation.

Etymology

Aggrandizement comes from aggrandize, made of a- meaning 'to' and grand meaning 'big' or 'great', the same 'grand' you already know in English. So aggrandizement is the act of making a person or thing seem bigger, richer, or more important, often too much or not fair.