aggrandize

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 5, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>aggrandize</strong> &#149; \uh-GRAN-dyze\&nbsp; &#149; <em>verb</em><br /> <p>To aggrandize something is to enhance its power, wealth, position, or reputation. <em>Aggrandize</em> can also mean "to increase or enlarge" or "to praise highly."</p> <p>// Critics of the book argued that the author <em>aggrandizes</em> corrupt politicians. </p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aggrandize">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"By definition and disposition, the spy presents a daunting challenge to the historian. Expected to be elusive and deceptive, secret agents prefer to swallow written evidence, not preserve it. Then, if they survive to write memoirs, they often <em>aggrandize</em> their achievements at the expense of truth." — Harold Holzer, <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>, 2 Aug. 2019</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p><em>Aggrandize</em> is a grand word, and we don’t just mean that in praise. The word literally traces back to the Latin adjective <em>grandis</em>, meaning "grand," and it has enhanced the English language for over three centuries. Nowadays, <em>aggrandize</em> is often paired with <em>self</em> (either <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self">the word</a> or <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-#h5">the prefix</a>: to "aggrandize oneself" or to "be self-aggrandizing" is to glorify oneself, or to intently pursue power, wealth, and the like. It's of course great to take pride in a job well done, but we <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stan#dictionary-entry-4">stan</a> those who keep it real—after all, not every hit can be a <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grand%20slam">grand slam</a>.</p> <br /><br /> </p> </font>