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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Back in 1961, astronomer Frank Drake put chalk to board and devised a formula to estimate the number of communicative civilizations in the Milky Way.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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After a deeper résumé review turned up more red flags, Hudson, Gicinto and the Nisos team devised a plan to bait Jo.—
Lisa Cavazuti,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The house was constructed from trees that once surrounded the property, and is now an oasis complete with a full kitchen for whipping up afternoon snacks and a backyard with a BBQ and plenty of outdoor furniture.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
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Leland Couch, the Little Rock parks and recreation director, told the board last week that the city was offered the opportunity to apply for FEMA funding to construct two different safe rooms following the March 31, 2023, tornado that caused major damage across the metro area.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wholesome content, but entirely concocted.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
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Keanu Reeves and Jonah Hill concoct an unusual strategy for dealing with a blackmail threat in the trailer for the dark comedy film Outcome.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And the other two are coming from the Midwest, one with a history that began with the coach who invented basketball.—
Jay Posner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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While this event might have been invented by the filmmakers, the film was made by the filmmakers in collaboration with the protagonists.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Millions and millions of dollars are poured into the sprawling motion picture economy of Los Angeles to drum up support for the year’s Academy Award nominees.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
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Union officials also held a rally outside district offices Tuesday afternoon, drumming up support for their cause ahead of the school board’s meeting.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trump up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trump%20up. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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