We show that the complexity class of exponential-time Arthur Merlin with sub-exponential advice ($AMEXP_{/2^{n^{\varepsilon}}}$) requires circuit complexity at least $2^n/n$. Previously, the best known such near-maximum lower bounds were for symmetric exponential time by Chen, Hirahara, and Ren (STOC'24) and Li (STOC'24), or randomized exponential time with MCSP oracle and ... more >>>