"Overstate" vs. "embellish": comparing two ways to exaggerate

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 29/09/2024, 16:51

English.me team member

Overstate and embellish. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words imply exaggeration or enhancement of the truth.

What is different?

Overstate typically means to express something in too strong or exaggerated terms, often negative. Embellish means to add decorative details or features, often positive or neutral in context.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Overstate

He has a tendency to overstate his accomplishments.
The article overstated the importance of the event.

Embellish

She likes to embellish her stories with vivid details.
The artist decided to embellish the painting with gold leaf.