WORD OF THE DAY: AGGRANDISE
verb | uh-GRAN-dyze
To aggrandise someone (or something) is to enhance their power, wealth, position, or reputation. Aggrandise can also mean “to increase or enlarge” or “to praise highly.”
// Critics of the book argue that the author aggrandises corrupt politicians.
EXAMPLES OF AGGRANDISE
“… many congregants spoke of their admiration for Tsietsi. They came forward to tell stories of previous encounters with him. While some were obvious fabrications, meant to aggrandise the narrator by his association with Tsietsi, most seemed true.” — Lynda Schuster, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
DID YOU KNOW?
Aggrandise is a grand word, and we don’t just mean that in praise. The word literally traces back to the Latin adjective grandis, meaning “fully grown, large, great,” and it has enhanced the English language for over three centuries. Nowadays, aggrandize is often paired with self, either the word or the prefix: to “aggrandise oneself” or to “be self-aggrandising” 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 appreciate those who keep it real—after all, not every hit can be a grand slam.
Merriam Webster Dictionary
