Make Your Point > Archived Issues > HYPERBOLIC

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explore the archives: Hyperbole, or something hyperbolic, is an extravagant exaggeration: a far-fetched stretching of the truth. We've often checked out words that help us express thoughts hyperbolically, like beh_____, meaning "something so ridiculously big and powerful that it reminds you of an oversized beast," and Pan_____ian, meaning "so extremely confident and hopeful that it's ridiculous." make your point with... "HYPERBOLIC" Hyperbole, like you probably remember from your English classes, is any wild exaggeration, or in other words, any outrageous stretching of the truth. So, something hyperbolic is said or written in an untrue, unreasonable, wildly exaggerated way. Pronunciation: HI per BALL ick Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a hyperbolic thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was hyperbolic.") Other forms: "Hyperbole" is the noun, (said "hi PER buh lee") and the adverb is "hyperbolically" ("HI per BALL ick [uh] lee"). How to use it: Because exaggeration is such a common habit, and because it can be so powerful, even dangerous, it helps to have this word on hand to point out when the truth has been stretched way too far. Talk about hyperbolic language and rhetoric, hyperbolic words and expressions, hyperbolic slogans and catchphrases, hyperbolic propaganda, hyperbolic articles and essays and speeches, someone's hyperbolic style of speaking or writing, hyperbolic claims and statements and warnings, hyperbolic examples, hyperbolic descriptions and comparisons, etc. You might call a person hyperbolic, but that's rare, and it's more precise to say that the person's claims are hyperbolic, that her speeches are hyperbolic, etc. examples: Full of hyperbolic praise but lacking any specific details, his recommendation letter convinced no one. I had to laugh along with my student's joyous, hyperbolic story about getting her puppy--the smallest, cutest, sweetest creature in the universe. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "hyperbolic" means when you can explain it without saying "very exaggerated" or "extremely overstated." try it out: Think of an advertisement that promises too much. Fill in the blanks: "(A specific product or service) might (do something), but I doubt the hyperbolic claim that it'll (do something amazing or unrealistic)." Example: "This shampoo might make your hair smell lovely, but I doubt the hyperbolic claims that it'll cleanse your spirit, rejuvenate your soul, or send you striding elegantly down the sidewalk in slow motion with the wind fanning your hair out behind you." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing with KWIKORD, an addictive, challenging new word game for solo or group play, created by Wayne Ellice.  We're dipping our toes into the game this month, trying some simple challenges first and working our way toward harder tasks. (Check out my interview with the game's creator here, and order your own copy of the full version of KWIKORD here.) You'll see a sample answer to each puzzle the following day. Enjoy! Yesterday, you took the letters CTYAEO and arranged them into words that fill the perimeter of a 3x3 grid. Many solutions were possible. Here are two: We'll do this a few more times before switching to a more complex task. Try it again today with the letters NSWAEE. Draw a tic-tac-toe board on some scrap paper and go for it! review today's word: 1. The opposite of HYPERBOLIC is A. UNDERSTATED B. RHAPSODIC C. MELODIC 2. The article, unapologetically hyperbolic, hailed the new gadget as _____. A. a waste of $85 B. one of the most promising inventions of the year C. the heavenly fulfillment of a desperate prayer Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C