" aggrandizement "

1: advancement or increase in power or importance;

  * e.g., " ... He acted only for his political advantage and personal aggrandizement. "

•  Synonyms : 

•  ennoblement,

•  exaltation,

•  glorification,

•  magnification,

•  advancement,

•  ascent,

•  creation,

•  elevation,

•  preference,

•  preferment,

•  promotion,

•  rise,

•  upgrade,

•  upgrading

•  Antonyms : 

•  deposition,

•  dethronement,

•  discharge,

•  dismissal,

•  expulsion,

•  impeachment,

•  ouster,

•  overthrow,

•  removal,

•  suspension,

•  unmaking,

•  unseating,

•  downfall,

•  fall,

•  abasement,

•  comedown,

•  degradation,

•  demotion,

•  disrating,

•  downgrade,

•  reduction

1: as in egotism, self-importance;

•  Synonyms : 

•  arrogance,

•  bumptiousness,

•  complacency,

•  conceit,

•  egotism,

•  hauteur,

•  imperiousness,

•  pompousness,

•  presumptuousness,

•  pride,

•  self-assertion,

•  self-assumption,

•  self-conceit,

•  self-consequence,

•  self-glorification,

•  self-importance,

•  self-satisfaction,

•  smugness,

•  vaingloriousness,

•  vainglory,

•  vainness,

•  vanity,

•  affectation,

•  affectedness,

•  grandiosity,

•  inflation,

•  pretense,

•  pretension,

•  pretentiousness,

•  disdain,

•  haughtiness,

•  lordliness,

•  snobbery,

•  snobbishness,

•  superciliousness,

•  superiority,

•  confidence,

•  presumption,

•  self-assurance,

•  self-confidence,

•  sureness,

•  boastfulness,

•  braggadocio,

•  aggressiveness,

•  assertiveness,

•  audaciousness,

•  boldness,

•  brassiness,

•  cheekiness,

•  cockiness,

•  forwardness,

•  impudence,

•  insolence,

•  rudeness,

•  grandiloquence,

•  flamboyance,

•  flashiness,

•  garishness,

•  gaudiness,

•  glitz,

•  mummery,

•  ostentation,

•  ostentatiousness,

•  show,

•  showiness

•  Antonyms : 

•  demureness,

•  down-to-earthness,

•  humbleness,

•  humility,

•  lowliness,

•  meekness,

•  modesty,

•  bashfulness,

•  diffidence,

•  shyness,

•  timidity,

•  naturalness,

•  sincerity

1: to assign a high status or value to;

  * e.g., " ... a movie that aggrandizes the bad guys and makes the cops look like dopes "

•  Synonyms : 

•  canonize,

•  deify,

•  dignify,

•  elevate,

•  ennoble,

•  enshrine,

•  ensky,

•  enthrone,

•  exalt,

•  glorify,

•  magnify

•  Antonyms : 

•  abase,

•  degrade,

•  demean,

•  humble,

•  humiliate

2: to make greater in size, amount, or number;

  * e.g., " ... a generous grant, enabling the library to significantly aggrandize its collection "

•  Synonyms : 

•  accelerate,

•  add (to),

•  amplify,

•  augment,

•  boost,

•  build up,

•  compound,

•  enlarge,

•  escalate,

•  expand,

•  extend,

•  hype,

•  increase,

•  multiply,

•  pump up,

•  raise,

•  stoke,

•  supersize,

•  swell,

•  up

•  Antonyms : 

•  abate,

•  decrease,

•  de-escalate,

•  diminish,

•  downsize,

•  dwindle,

•  lessen,

•  lower,

•  minify,

•  reduce,

•  subtract (from)