magnify
/ˈmæɡnɪˌfaɪ/
VERB
1. To praise or glorify
To praise, honor, or glorify someone or something, especially by emphasizing greatness, excellence, or divine importance.
1.1. Praise and admiration
To express admiration, approval, or appreciation for someone's qualities, achievements, or actions.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- criticize
- belittle
- disparage
- condemn
- decry
Examples
- The documentary magnifies the achievements of pioneering scientists.
- The speaker magnified the contributions of everyone involved in the project.
Related Words
1.2. Glorification and exaltation
To portray someone or something as exceptionally great, worthy of honor, or deserving of reverence.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
- The religious text magnifies the greatness and mercy of God.
- The biography magnifies the hero's virtues and sacrifices.
Related Words
VERB
2. To make something larger or more important
To increase the physical size, extent, importance, influence, or significance of something.
2.1. Physical enlargement
To increase the apparent size or dimensions of an object, image, or structure.
Synonyms
- enlarge
- expand
- amplify
- augment
- increase
- dilate
Antonyms
Examples
- The architect magnified the original design to create a larger model.
- The photograph was magnified to reveal its finer details.
Related Words
- broaden
- widen
- extend
- swell
- stretch
2.2. Increasing importance or significance
To make an issue, quality, achievement, or situation more prominent, influential, or significant.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- diminish
- lessen
- minimize
- reduce
- downplay
Examples
- The discovery magnifies the importance of continued scientific research.
- The new evidence magnifies the significance of the investigation.
Related Words
- emphasize
- reinforce
- stress
- promote
- boost
VERB
3. To make something appear greater or more important than it is
To exaggerate the apparent size, importance, seriousness, or extent of something.
3.1. Exaggeration and overstatement
To make facts, qualities, problems, or situations appear more significant or extreme than they actually are.
Synonyms
- exaggerate
- overstate
- overemphasize
- inflate
- overplay
- hyperbolize
Antonyms
- understate
- downplay
- minimize
- moderate
- underestimate
Examples
- The media magnifies minor disagreements into major controversies.
- His account magnifies the difficulties of the situation.
- The report magnifies the risks while overlooking the potential benefits.
Related Words
- embellish
- distort
- dramatize
- sensationalize
- overrate
VERB
4. To intensify or increase an effect
To make an emotion, sensation, effect, or condition stronger, more noticeable, or more severe.
4.1. Intensification of feelings and effects
To increase the strength, severity, or perceptibility of an emotion, sensation, reaction, or effect.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
- In times of crisis, rumors tend to magnify fear and uncertainty.
- Stress can magnify minor problems, making them seem much larger and more daunting than they actually are.
- The sound of the storm was magnified by the narrow valley.
Related Words
- exacerbate
- reinforce
- strengthen
- accentuate
- escalate
VERB
5. To make something appear larger through an optical instrument
To make an object or image appear larger by using a lens, magnifying glass, telescope, or other optical instrument.
5.1. Optical enlargement
To increase the apparent size of a distant or very small object when viewed through an optical device.
Synonyms
- enlarge
- blow up
Antonyms
- miniaturize
- shrink
Examples
- Using a microscope, scientists can magnify tiny organisms to study their structure.
- Her glasses magnify the text, making it easier for her to read small print.
- The new telescope has the ability to magnify distant galaxies, allowing astronomers to study them in detail.
Related Words
- magnifying glass
- microscope
- telescope
- lens
- magnification