1
as in thrilling
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings of
the crowd was pumped up by the band's rocking performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in increasing
to make greater in size, amount, or number
that pop diva is trying to pump up album sales with an extended publicity tour
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pumping up
Each one of the over 300 locations had to be 300 times less likely to fail than if there had been only one, pumping up the design, manufacturing and testing requirements – and inflating the cost.
—
Martin Elvis, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
True, pumping up the dosage can give women an almost euphoric high, Christmas says.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 25 Dec. 2025
Different members took turns pumping up the team.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
That combination of offering greater value to consumers while pumping up a long-dormant marketing muscle is the sort of thing upon which a movement may be founded.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Springsteen was reportedly a frequent visitor on the set of Deliver Me From Nowhere — undoubtedly pumping up the extras, and presumably stressing out the actors.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
August 20, 2025 – Bryan Danielson pumping up the crowd on AEW Dynamite.
—Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Even the normally surefire element of a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, with its blasts of dissonance pumping up the squirm factor, adds to the heavy-going effect of a movie that seems to go out of its way to be grating.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
The company started pumping up its website during the pandemic when people were not shopping stores.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2025
Martin Elvis, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
True, pumping up the dosage can give women an almost euphoric high, Christmas says.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 25 Dec. 2025
Different members took turns pumping up the team.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
That combination of offering greater value to consumers while pumping up a long-dormant marketing muscle is the sort of thing upon which a movement may be founded.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Springsteen was reportedly a frequent visitor on the set of Deliver Me From Nowhere — undoubtedly pumping up the extras, and presumably stressing out the actors.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
August 20, 2025 – Bryan Danielson pumping up the crowd on AEW Dynamite.
—Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Even the normally surefire element of a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, with its blasts of dissonance pumping up the squirm factor, adds to the heavy-going effect of a movie that seems to go out of its way to be grating.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
The company started pumping up its website during the pandemic when people were not shopping stores.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pumping up
Verb
-
Zito served as an assistant general manager for the United States men’s hockey team that had just won gold at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 1980 with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win against Canada in Milan.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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Last year, Jae Scott, Teegan Lanpher and the Mountaineers won the title with a thrilling 55-54 victory at UMass Lowell.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Throughout these years, Ma began to feel an increasing sense of remorse at his complicity in this system, which sparked deeper soul-searching around his identity as a Muslim, and what that meant within Chinese society.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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Beef prices have been increasing since the beginning of the decade.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For Harrington and her husband Dante, the thought of triplets was shocking but exciting all the same.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In his closing remarks at the congress, Kim doubled down on expanding the nation’s nuclear arsenal.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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The company currently has 282 active customers and are expanding each day.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Prioritize visibility Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
His naked self-dealing, weaponizing the Justice Department against his political foes, turning on our allies, the casino-fication of the White House — none of it bodes well for the future of our democracy, setting precedents that other presidents on both sides of the aisle could very well continue.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As a result, forward profit margin expectations are actively accelerating for companies successfully utilizing AI.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
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Such a visit could be the ticket to turning down the temperature in a rapidly accelerating sub-regional showdown whose costs will be borne by the sub-region’s approximately 200 million people.—
Cameron Hudson,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This electrifying combo of documentary and concert film showcases the King of Rock 'n' Roll at his creative zenith during his 1970s Las Vegas residency and early '70s tours, and more importantly showcases Presley in all of his jumpsuited splendor, as both cultural icon and cool guy.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, Lamar’s electrifying Super Bowl halftime performance was named outstanding short-form series or special – reality/nonfiction/documentary.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If China is to meet its ambitious growth targets, Beijing will need to shift spending from industrial subsidies, which are creating deflationary pressures, to boosting the social safety net.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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Lowe’s acquisitions focus on pro customers Last year, Lowe’s made two major acquisitions aimed at boosting the company’s pro sales amid slow DIY demand.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pumping up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pumping%20up. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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