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hyperbole

noun/haɪˈpɜrboʊli/

definition

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

example

His claim that he could lift a car was pure hyperbole, meant to impress his friends rather than reflect reality.

synonyms
exaggerationoverstatementembellishment
word origin — from Greek 'hyperbolē' meaning 'excess', from 'hyper' meaning 'beyond' and 'balloun' meaning 'to throw'

hyperbole, affectation, vernacular, egoism, ornamentation: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 280. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. hyperbole · noun/haɪˈpɜrboʊli/

    exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

    His claim that he could lift a car was pure hyperbole, meant to impress his friends rather than reflect reality.

    Synonyms: exaggeration, overstatement, embellishment

    Origin: from Greek 'hyperbolē' meaning 'excess', from 'hyper' meaning 'beyond' and 'balloun' meaning 'to throw'

  2. affectation · noun/ˌæfɛkˈteɪʃən/

    a display of artificial behavior or mannerisms intended to impress others

    Her affectation of a posh accent was clearly intended to impress her peers at the party.

    Synonyms: pretense, insincerity, facade

    Origin: from Latin 'affectatio', meaning 'a striving after, a desire for' from 'affectare', meaning 'to strive for or to pretend'

  3. vernacular · noun/vəˈnækjələr/

    the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region

    The playwright skillfully incorporated the local vernacular into his dialogue to make the characters more relatable.

    Synonyms: dialect, language, colloquialism

    Origin: from Latin 'vernaculus' meaning 'native, indigenous'

  4. egoism · noun/ˈiɡoʊɪzəm/

    the ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation of morality

    Critics argue that egoism undermines the importance of altruism in moral decision-making, suggesting that a focus on self-interest can lead to ethical shortcomings.

    Synonyms: self-interest, selfishness

    Origin: Derived from the Latin word 'ego' meaning 'I', combined with the suffix '-ism' to denote a theory or belief.

  5. ornamentation · noun/ˌɔrnəmenˈteɪʃən/

    decorative elements added to enhance appearance

    The ornate ornamentation on the facade of the building impressed all the visitors with its intricate designs.

    Synonyms: decoration, embellishment, decoration

    Origin: from the Latin 'ornamentatio', from 'ornamentum', meaning 'that which decorates or adorns'