How to say "exaggerated" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

大げさおおげさJLPT N1approx.Common
na-adjectiveThe broadest choice for 'exaggerated': speech or writing that overstates the case, and reactions or descriptions that are overdone. Fits talk, stories, and responses that blow things out of proportion.
その老人ろうじんはおおげさに言いう傾向けいこうがある。↗
The old man tends to exaggerate.
大仰おおぎょうCommon
na-adjectiveAlso 'exaggerated, overblown, overdone', leaning toward manner: reacting or doing something more grandly or dramatically than it calls for. Close to 大げさ; for overstated speech, 大げさ is the better fit.

Both words mean making things seem bigger or more dramatic than they are. Choose 「大げさ」 as the general term, especially for hyperbolic statements; 大仰 stresses overblown, overdone manner and overlaps with it.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

大げさおおげさexaggerated
大仰おおぎょうexaggerated
仰々しいぎょうぎょうしいexaggerated
ご大層ごたいそうexaggerated
事々しいことごとしいbombastic
オーバーexaggerated
おどろおどろしいexaggerated
ぎょうさんexaggerated
物々しいものものしいshowy
たいそうexaggerated

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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