cook (up)

verb

Definition of cook (up)next
as in to devise
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination cooked up a scheme to get out of doing the dishes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cook (up)
  1. devise
  2. construct
  3. concoct
  4. invent
Verb
  • Its specialists work with customers to assess their retirement accounts and devise a diversified portfolio of precious metals that features an asset allocation designed to adhere to their risk tolerance and investment goals.
    — Javier Simon, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • Marmion and Currie now join every other coed school that has to devise how to share finite facilities.
    — Dave Oberhelman, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of devise
Verb
  • Rather than constructing reactors entirely on-site, Hadron plans to manufacture major reactor components in factories before transporting them for installation.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
  • All the action takes place in sets constructed specifically for the series as well as in the real outdoors, where the Ingalls family build a life—and a home—on land of the Osage people.
    — Michael Gioia, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026
Definition of construct
Verb
  • Tran says the hairstyle was concocted with Liu's outfit in mind, not to mention her overall vibe.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 16 July 2026
  • Similarly, the EastDiet hasn't been concocted by nutritionists in a lab; instead, it's been shaped by local, natural resources.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 July 2026
Definition of concoct
Verb
  • The images are known as shims, which were invented to extend Secure Boot to Linux devices and utility software.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026
  • The English invented soccer but have rarely been the best at it.
    — Steve Douglas, AJC.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of invent
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

cooks (up)
cook (up)
cool
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cook (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cook%20%28up%29. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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