Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In rhetoric, an obvious exaggeration; an extravagant statement or assertion not intended to be understood literally.
- noun Synonyms See
exaggeration .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Rhet.) A figure of speech in which the expression is an evident exaggeration of the meaning intended to be conveyed, or by which things are represented as much greater or less, better or worse, than they really are; a statement exaggerated fancifully, through excitement, or for effect.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun uncountable Extreme
exaggeration or overstatement; especially as aliterary or rhetorical device. - noun uncountable
Deliberate exaggeration. - noun countable An
instance orexample of this technique. - noun countable, obsolete A
hyperbola .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun extravagant exaggeration
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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But if his hyperbole is a little unfair, it's not foolish; it would be far more foolish to underestimate the import of the sublime, the degree to which the fame of those rhapsodes rests on how responsive people are to that aesthetic.
Archive 2010-03-01 Hal Duncan 2010
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But if his hyperbole is a little unfair, it's not foolish; it would be far more foolish to underestimate the import of the sublime, the degree to which the fame of those rhapsodes rests on how responsive people are to that aesthetic.
On the Sublime Hal Duncan 2010
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It appears that you are looking past what you call hyperbole only to replace it with your own hyperbole by reading too much into this situation.
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It appears that you are looking past what you call hyperbole only to replace it with your own hyperbole by reading too much into this situation.
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Aside from the fact that your hyperbole is laughable, I believe it is you and Dawkins who have missed the mark on this.
A California Ruling 2009
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Your hyperbole is off the wall. 33% of Americans oppose the death penalty for murder, as do 40% of Democrats, but only 20% GOP per Galliup Poll in 2007.
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Responding in kind to exaggeration or hyperbole is neither “appropriate” nor effective.
The Volokh Conspiracy » Never a Good Way to Start Your Argument 2010
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I guess hyperbole is only acceptable from the Left.
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His hyperbole is intended to prevent informed debate in the fear that people will stop their partisan bickering long enough to actually see that his bill is lousy.
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Because you chose to engage in hyperbole, and use the word “dwarfed”, you are now in an indefensible position, and you know it.
Matthew Yglesias » Mass Transit is As American as Apple Pie 2010
legios commented on the word hyperbole
I like to "spew vitriolic hyperbole" while intoxicated. Usually of a misantropic inclination...
December 26, 2006
fbharjo commented on the word hyperbole
I overthrow hyperbole - what is hypobole - undershoot??????
January 27, 2007
uselessness commented on the word hyperbole
This is, hands down, the absolute greatest word in the entire history of language, an unparalleled masterpiece of phonemic perfection, harbinger of the futility of all other words. Would I lie? If English were a nation-state, hyperbole would be king, nay, emperor, nay, supreme benevolent dictator of the universe.
And overthrowing it, friend, is nowhere near even the slightest glimpse of possibility.
January 27, 2007
BrainyBabe commented on the word hyperbole
Now he tasted the rare and godlike joys of the man who sees his flights of hyperbole come true. -- ''Yashima, or, The Gorgeous West'' by R T Sherwood, 1931.
December 24, 2008
bilby commented on the word hyperbole
Best word ever.
April 24, 2009
ezzackly commented on the word hyperbole
I prefer using this word in its adverb form. It sounds so fancy.
Hyperbolically, I told him I would rather die then go out with him.
May 16, 2009
czarina commented on the word hyperbole
ADHD superbowl..?
August 10, 2009
fbharjo commented on the word hyperbole
hy (su) perbole
June 22, 2010
kewpid commented on the word hyperbole
Australia's Prime Minister has come under attack for mispronouncing hyperbole.
April 7, 2011
bilby commented on the word hyperbole
I'm sure she'll negosiate a way out.
April 8, 2011
Louises commented on the word hyperbole
Hyperbole is a writing vice, but I stand by the claim that I gave Drew...quite literally the fright of his life. From "The Last Werewolf" by Glen Duncan.
March 18, 2012
dailyword commented on the word hyperbole
This word was used in a Buffy episode when a girl's hands caught fire.
July 4, 2012