What is an antonym for exaggerate

General
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what is an antonym for exaggerate

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What is an antonym for exaggerate?

Answer:

To determine an antonym for the word “exaggerate,” it’s essential to understand what “exaggerate” means. “Exaggerate” refers to the act of making something seem larger, more important, or more significant than it actually is. This can involve overstating the facts or stretching the truth to make an impression or to emphasize a particular point.

Given this definition, an antonym would be a word that conveys the opposite action—understating or minimizing the truth or the significance of something.

Step 1: Understanding “Exaggerate”

  • Definition: To represent (something) as greater than it is; to overstate.
  • Synonymous Actions: Amplify, overemphasize, magnify.

Step 2: Identifying Antonyms

The antonym for “exaggerate” should reflect actions that reduce or minimize the perceived importance or size of something, rather than enlarging it.

  • Possible Antonyms: Minimize, understate, downplay.

Step 3: Exploring Suitable Antonyms

  1. Minimize:

    • Definition: To reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree.
    • Usage: “To minimize the issue is to regard it as less serious than it is.”

  2. Understate:

    • Definition: To describe something as less significant than it really is.
    • Usage: “She chose to understate her achievements during the interview.”

  3. Downplay:

    • Definition: To make something appear less important or worthy of attention.
    • Usage: “The company tried to downplay the impact of the product recall.”

Step 4: Contextual Application

When choosing which antonym to use, consider the context:

  • Minimize: Appropriate when referring to reducing the importance or size.
  • Understate: Useful when describing something in a way that deliberately makes it sound less significant.
  • Downplay: Often used when attempting to divert attention from a particular aspect by lessening its perceived impact.

Final Answer:

The antonyms for “exaggerate” are “minimize,” “understate,” and “downplay,” each of which reduces or diminishes the perceived significance or magnitude of something as opposed to enlarging it.