General:
* Exaggerate: This is the most common and direct synonym.
* Hyperbolize: Similar to exaggerate, but often implies a more dramatic or extravagant overstatement.
* Amplify: This focuses on making something larger or more intense.
* Inflate: This suggests making something seem bigger or more important than it really is.
* Embellish: This implies adding details to make something more interesting or impressive, even if those details are not entirely true.
More specific:
* Distort: This emphasizes the act of changing the true form or meaning of something.
* Misrepresent: This specifically implies presenting something in a way that is false or misleading.
* Fabricate: This implies creating something entirely false or made up.
* Twist: This suggests intentionally changing the meaning of something to suit a particular purpose.
* Magnify: This focuses on making something appear larger or more significant than it really is.
The best word to use will depend on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.