Definitions
- Describing the act of making something seem more important, bigger, or better than it actually is. - Referring to the tendency to overemphasize or overstate a particular point or detail. - Talking about the habit of embellishing or adding extra details to a story or event.
- Describing the act of making something seem more significant or serious than it actually is. - Referring to the tendency to overemphasize or overestimate the impact or consequences of a particular situation or event. - Talking about the habit of inflating or magnifying the importance or value of something.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words involve making something seem more than it actually is.
- 2Both words can be used to describe an overemphasis on a particular point or detail.
- 3Both words can be used to describe a tendency to exaggerate or overestimate the importance or impact of something.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Exaggerate is more commonly used in everyday language, while overstate is more formal and often used in academic or professional contexts.
- 2Intensity: Overstate implies a greater degree of exaggeration or overemphasis than exaggerate.
- 3Focus: Exaggerate emphasizes the addition of extra details or embellishments, while overstate emphasizes the inflation of importance or significance.
- 4Connotation: Exaggerate can have a playful or humorous connotation, while overstate is typically more serious and formal.
Remember this!
Exaggerate and overstate are synonyms that both describe the act of making something seem more than it actually is. However, overstate implies a greater degree of exaggeration or overemphasis than exaggerate, and is typically more formal and serious in tone. Exaggerate is more commonly used in everyday language and emphasizes the addition of extra details or embellishments.
