COUGHING UP Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

coughing up

verb

present participle of cough up

as in relinquishing

to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress finally got my brother to cough up the dough he owed me

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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.

Recent Examples of coughing up Tehran had already moved to start charging ships transiting the strait in recent weeks, with at least one vessel coughing up $2 million to do so, according to shipping intelligence firm Lloyd’s List. —

Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026 The streamer is coughing up some $150 million over the next three years for the rights to carry a total of nine sessions of baseball, a bare bones roster that includes the annual opener, the Field of Dream games formerly hosted by Fox and the Home Run Derby. —

Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 1 Apr. 2026 To avoid the lines, customers (including first-time private fliers) are now coughing up large sums to avoid TSA altogether, sometimes to the tune of $34,000, Bloomberg reported. —

Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2026 Minnesota didn’t cower when backed into a corner Wednesday after coughing up an 11 point lead with fewer than four minutes to play in the final frame. —

Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026 Then, Nolan’s parents put his fighting skills to the test with a brutal beatdown, but things quickly take a turn as Viltrumites around the planet start coughing up blood. —

Jordan Moreau, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026 That game featured the Stars coughing up a late lead thanks to a Valeri Nichuskin goal with 14 seconds left in regulation. —

Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026 Typically, Gunnar had to keep his time on the ice short due to his difficulty breathing, often coughing up mucus when returning from his shift. —

Ian Thomas, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026 On the flipside, Wisconsin escaped the first half without coughing up the ball once and finished the game with three turnovers, which the Terps converted to only three points. —

Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coughing up

Verb

Tarrant County commissioners unanimously decided on Tuesday to put about a quarter mile of road up for sale in hopes of relinquishing control over the stretch.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2026
While the company is seen as relinquishing its multi-year lead on the technology, former Apple insiders said there's still hope.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026