Which figure of speech uses exaggerated statements for emphasis?

• A. Euphemism
• B. Hyperbole
• C. Irony
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (B)

Exaggeration for emphasis is hyperbole. Hyperbole uses deliberate overstatement to make something seem far more dramatic or humorous than it really is, and it isn’t meant to be taken literally. For example, saying, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” heightens the feeling of hunger through a comic extreme. That overblown scale is the key feature here. The other figures of speech serve different purposes: a euphemism softens or sugarcoats reality rather than overstating it; irony centers on a contrast between what’s expected and what actually occurs or on saying the opposite of what is meant; a metaphor makes a direct comparison to create a vivid image without relying on exaggeration. So, the use of exaggerated statements for emphasis points to hyperbole.