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
Activist groups say the charges against him were trumped up.
—
Gabe Levin, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
Yes, his relationship with alcohol seems to be not great and complicated, but these charges still seem trumped up to me.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 June 2025
In their response, Petrova’s attorneys accused the government of trumping up criminal charges in a bid to prevent her bail and motions from being heard in federal court.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
And, while the charges were most likely trumped up, the city’s leaders were correct about one thing: Young people are highly suggestible.
—Patricia Schultheis, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2025
The work was banned by the Malian Ministry of Culture and Cissé was arrested and jailed on trumped up charges of accepting French funding.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Human rights groups and some Western countries have accused Iran of trying to win concessions from other nations through arrests on security charges that may have been trumped up.
—Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025
The Pennsylvania native was sentenced to 14 years on a drug smuggling charge that his family has said was trumped up, and the U.S. had called for his humanitarian release.
—Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 11 Feb. 2025
In the stage show, set in Argentina in 1983, political prisoner Valentín Arregui is transferred to a cell already occupied by Luis Molina, a gay window dresser convicted on trumped up charges of public indecency.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Gabe Levin, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
Yes, his relationship with alcohol seems to be not great and complicated, but these charges still seem trumped up to me.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 June 2025
In their response, Petrova’s attorneys accused the government of trumping up criminal charges in a bid to prevent her bail and motions from being heard in federal court.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
And, while the charges were most likely trumped up, the city’s leaders were correct about one thing: Young people are highly suggestible.
—Patricia Schultheis, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2025
The work was banned by the Malian Ministry of Culture and Cissé was arrested and jailed on trumped up charges of accepting French funding.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Human rights groups and some Western countries have accused Iran of trying to win concessions from other nations through arrests on security charges that may have been trumped up.
—Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025
The Pennsylvania native was sentenced to 14 years on a drug smuggling charge that his family has said was trumped up, and the U.S. had called for his humanitarian release.
—Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 11 Feb. 2025
In the stage show, set in Argentina in 1983, political prisoner Valentín Arregui is transferred to a cell already occupied by Luis Molina, a gay window dresser convicted on trumped up charges of public indecency.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trump up
Verb
-
In Season 3, Pink Guard No-eul devises a plan to rescue Gyeong-seok (Player 246) and get him safely off the island.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Under the system of graft O’Connor devised, out-of-town crooks checked in with an underworld go-between, who would collect their name, address and a cash bribe.—
Nick Woltman,
Twin Cities,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
The 430-piece set constructs two cherry blossom branches that can be displayed individually or combined with other sets for a larger bloom.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
27 June 2025
-
As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Renato Paiva concocted a bold scheme that saw his Botafogo defend in an aggressively high line and limit PSG’s space.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
-
To keep pace, Hans Zimmer has concocted a visceral new growl that rattles our seats.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Vet Vendors Thoroughly There’s a lot of AI hype out there, with everyone claiming to have the greatest solution since the internet was invented.—
David Kelley,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
Humankind has been freed from sickness and pain after a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist, Dr. Skinner, invented a miracle cure-all drug with no apparent side effects called Hapuna.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Now, Richardson has once again drummed up injury concerns, as the shoulder injury leading to his minicamp was beginning to cause even more concern.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
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For decades, there has been no better way for Hollywood marketers to drum up interest in their films than to play trailers for thousands of fans settled in their seats at cinemas across the country waiting for the main attraction to begin.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trump up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trump%20up. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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