Word of the Day: Hyperbole

hy·per·bo·le

noun \hī-ˈpər-bə-(ˌ)lē\

: language that describes something as better or worse than it really is

: extravagant exaggeration (as “mile-high ice-cream cones”)

— hy·per·bo·list noun

<“enough food to feed a whole army” is a common example of hyperbole>
Four decades later we’re all blabbermouths, adrift on a sea of hyperbole, shouting to be heard. —Steve Rushin, Sports Illustrated, 1 Apr. 2002

Latin, from Greek hyperbolē excess, hyperbole, hyperbola, from hyperballein to exceed, from hyper- + ballein to throw — more at devil

First Known Use: 15th century

Synonyms: caricature, coloring, elaboration, embellishment,embroidering, embroidery, exaggeration,; magnification,overstatement, padding, stretching