as in to devise
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
parents who were always trumping up little projects for their children to do around the house
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Recent Examples of trump up
But in a statement issued by his attorney, Maluchnik denies all of that, saying the charges have been trumped up.
—
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Because of the differences they are labeled as evil, incompetent, corrupt or some other trumped up charge such as antisemitic.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
The funding that currently pays state law enforcement overtime to trump up charges against those suspected.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Bass insisted the charges were trumped up.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
He was forced to flee the country in the months following the election, due to trumped up conspiracy and terrorism charges presented by the government that would have led to decades in prison.
—Flora Charner, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
The crimes with which she has been charged are trumped up and her arrest is a cynical ploy by the junta headed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to cling onto power.
—Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
She was elected to the country's National Assembly in 2010, only to be expelled four years later on allegations her supporters said were trumped up.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025
Although the woman-alien’s powers were trumped up to comedic effect, Estelle could not help but see that beneath its B-movie veneer, Devil Girl from Mars tapped into a looming anxiety that was palpable all around.
—Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Because of the differences they are labeled as evil, incompetent, corrupt or some other trumped up charge such as antisemitic.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
The funding that currently pays state law enforcement overtime to trump up charges against those suspected.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Bass insisted the charges were trumped up.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
He was forced to flee the country in the months following the election, due to trumped up conspiracy and terrorism charges presented by the government that would have led to decades in prison.
—Flora Charner, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
The crimes with which she has been charged are trumped up and her arrest is a cynical ploy by the junta headed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to cling onto power.
—Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
She was elected to the country's National Assembly in 2010, only to be expelled four years later on allegations her supporters said were trumped up.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025
Although the woman-alien’s powers were trumped up to comedic effect, Estelle could not help but see that beneath its B-movie veneer, Devil Girl from Mars tapped into a looming anxiety that was palpable all around.
—Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trump up
Verb
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Their philosophy from the start was to devise a scheme that could help save Jokic’s legs for playoff basketball.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
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The third-year wing said he’s been working closely with Brown to devise methods of vexing Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers’ most dangerous offensive threat.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a filing with an appeals court, the VA said that, regardless of the court’s injunction, its policy was to construct 750 to 800 units of temporary supportive housing on the campus by September.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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Nearly everyone thought the City of Kansas City had focused on a ballpark being constructed at Washington Square Park.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Investigators believe Simko met one of the suspects at a cannabis festival in Ann Arbor, where the suspects reportedly concocted a plan to set up a fake business deal and steal what officials said was upwards of 50 pounds of marijuana.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Composer Paul has concocted a pastiche of songs forever on the edge of our memories if not our tongues.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Lewis and Clark didn’t invent or even inspire this genre by themselves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Jobs certainly didn’t invent MP3 players or internet-capable mobile phones.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In other words, Northrop Grumman is engaging in a bit of self promotion to drum up support ahead of a decision that will be worth billions of dollars.—
David Szondy
April 21,
New Atlas,
21 Apr. 2026
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The publisher was looking to drum up publicity for the Las Vegas Marathon, which the newspaper was sponsoring.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trump up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trump%20up. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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