to magnify

Examples

• All

• He has a tendency to magnify his role in the project, making it sound more significant.

• The end of the Cold War has been a catalyst that has only magnified the existing symptoms.

  Academic text (1993)

• But notice I said magnify what he has.

  Stephan Speaks

• And believing that can also magnify your guilt at being mad about it.

• But with this little baby, the magic is magnified and becomes all mine.

  Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014)

• That one's power is only magnified when they use it on those they love.

  Amy (2013)

• So I think that like body image issues that I already had were kind of magnified when I stepped into this.

• The economic connectivity among countries has been magnified by the recent financial crisis.

  Academic text (2012)

• Yeah, I think that every time couples come into the cottage, their love was somehow magnified.

  The Enchanted Cottage (2016)

• The low income level of the city's inhabitants magnifies the impact of these enormous costs.

  Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

E

to exaggerate

vsto magnify

258 3.1

To say something is larger, better, or worse than it really is

focuses on perceived importance or seriousness rather than mere size

O

to overstate

vsto magnify

70 4.2

Say something is bigger or more important than it really is

highlights importance or seriousness rather than factual size

I

to inflate

vsto magnify

47 4.2

To make something seem more important or bigger than it really is

focuses on seriousness and significance rather than value or show

E

to expand

vsto magnify

20 3.4

To make something seem larger or more important than it is

is more about increasing perceived importance rather than physical size

D

to dramatize

vsto magnify

15 4.2

To make something seem more exciting or important than it really is

focuses on importance and seriousness instead of theatrical effect

O

to overplay

vsto magnify

13 4.6

Make something seem more important or serious than it really is

tends to be milder, stressing importance without theatrical excess

S

to sensationalize

vsto magnify

• Literature

12 6.8

To make stories seem more exciting than they are

aims to raise perceived importance rather than provoke shock

A

to amplify

vsto magnify

9 5.6

To make something seem bigger or more important than it really is

focuses on perceived importance rather than merely raising intensity

P

to play up

vsto magnify

9 4.3

Make something seem more important or impressive than it is

is more neutral and focuses on perceived seriousness rather than promotion

O

to overemphasize

vsto magnify

8 5.5

Treat something as more important than it should be

stresses overall significance rather than simply adding attention

A

to aggrandize

vsto magnify

• Formal

5 9.5

To make something seem more important by adding details or exaggerating

focuses on importance itself rather than boosting reputation or rank

S

to stretch the truth

vsto magnify

• Informal

5 5.3

To make a story seem better than it really is

focuses on perceived importance rather than altering factual truth

B

to blow up

vsto magnify

4 3.7

To make something seem more important or bigger than it is

is less about making drama and more about raising importance

M

to make a mountain out of a molehill

vsto magnify

• Informal

3 6.4

Treat a small problem as if it were very serious

is the general act of making importance seem greater, not only minor cases

O

to overdramatize

vsto magnify

3 6.6

Describe something as more serious or emotional than it really is

is about increasing perceived importance rather than theatrical flair

M

to make a big thing out of

vsto magnify

• Informal

2 5.8

Treat something as more important or serious than it is

often used for minor matters rather than general exaggeration

O

to overinflate

vsto magnify

1 5.1

Make something seem much bigger or more important than it is

does similar emphasis but without pushing claims so far

O

to overblow

vsto magnify

1 5.9

To make something seem more important or serious than it is

is used for general emphasis rather than extreme sensational inflation

M

to make a meal of

vsto magnify

• Informal

1 8.3

Act as if something is much more difficult or important than it is

focuses on importance rather than added complexity or fuss

H

to hyperbolize

vsto magnify

• US

1 7.9

To make something seem much bigger or more important than it really is

is used to stress importance rather than to be theatrically extreme

O

to overexaggerate

vsto magnify

1 5.4

To make something seem much worse or bigger than it is

does the same but without extreme excess

S

to substantialize

vsto magnify

9.1

To make an idea or claim seem more important

is more about perceived seriousness than actually adding weight

O

to overdraw

vsto magnify

6.6

Describe something as more important or impressive than it really is

tends to stress importance rather than theatrical drama

O

to overtell

vsto magnify

7.1

To make a story sound more exciting or important than it really is

is broader, applying to many situations not only stories

M

to make heavy weather of

vsto magnify

• UK

8.2

Act as if a task is much harder than it is

is about making importance seem larger rather than just difficulty

Antonyms

D

to diminish

201 3.7

To become less in size, importance, or value

U

to understate

18 5.2

To make something seem smaller or less important than it really is

How Exaggerated

to overstate

70 4.2

to blow up

4 3.7

to magnify

34 4.6

to play up

9 4.3

to emphasize

• US

397 3.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology