- Today's Word
Aggrandize
uh-GRAN-dyz
Definition
(verb) To increase the power, status, or reputation of something or someone.
Example
The article was designed to aggrandize the CEO despite the controversy.
Fun Fact
The word aggrandize is especially common in political commentary and media analysis, where it’s used to describe how people or institutions boost their image—often through exaggeration or selective storytelling. From emperors commissioning elaborate monuments to CEOs inflating their personal contributions, aggrandizing has always been about shaping perception more than reality. In literature, characters who aggrandize themselves—like Jay Gatsby or Iago—use charm, power, or deception to climb socially or mask their flaws. The word carries a subtle criticism: it suggests that the growth is often more about appearing bigger than being better.
(adjective) Severe or strict in manner or appearance; having no comforts or luxuries; pleasingly simple and unadorned.
The monastery’s austere design — bare stone walls, minimal furniture, and no decoration — was intentional, meant to keep the monks focused on contemplation rather than comfort.
Austere comes from the Greek austēros, meaning “harsh” or “rough to the taste,” originally used to describe the bitter, drying quality of unripe fruit. The word passed into Latin as austerus and then into Old French before arriving in English in the 14th century. Its early use referred to physical sensations before expanding to describe strict, unadorned behavior and environments.