aggrandize

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈɡrændaɪz/ UK /əˈɡrændaɪz/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to increase the power, wealth, or reputation of someone or something

The ruler sought to aggrandize his estate at his neighbors' expense.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to increase the power,... exalt elevate magnify enhance glorify amplify augment dignify

Opposites

belittle diminish disparage demean humble

Word family

Forms aggrandized

Derived forms aggrandizementaggrandizer

Related forms grand grandeur grandiose

Etymology

From French agrandir ('to make larger'), from a- ('to', from Latin ad) + grandir ('to grow larger'), from Latin grandire, from grandis ('great, large'); the English -ize form is by influence of verbs in -ize.

agrandir French grandis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# aggrandize

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈɡrændaɪz/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈɡrændaɪz/

## Meanings
1. to increase the power, wealth, or reputation of someone or something

## Examples
- The ruler sought to aggrandize his estate at his neighbors' expense.

## Synonyms
- exalt
- elevate
- magnify
- enhance
- glorify
- amplify
- augment
- dignify

## Antonyms
- belittle
- diminish
- disparage
- demean
- humble

## Derived Forms
- aggrandizement
- aggrandizer

## Related Forms
- grand
- grandeur
- grandiose

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: agrandir
- Root: grandis

## Etymology
From French agrandir ('to make larger'), from a- ('to', from Latin ad) + grandir ('to grow larger'), from Latin grandire, from grandis ('great, large'); the English -ize form is by influence of verbs in -ize.

## AI Etymology
Aggrandize is from French agrandir ('to make larger'), from a- ('to', from Latin ad) + grandir ('to grow larger'), from Latin grandire, from grandis ('great, large'); the English -ize form is by influence of verbs in -ize. In present-day use, it means to increase the power, wealth, or reputation of someone or something. Derived formations include aggrandizement and aggrandizer. Related vocabulary includes grand, grandeur, and grandiose.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown