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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trump up
Verb
-
After the village’s Plan Commission recommended in January against its original designs for building fences jutting into the lake from Centennial Beach, the Park District quickly devised two new options.—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
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Health ministry officials and the ministry of trade are also devising tax breaks to incentivize local manufacturing, said Modise.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The headquarters was mostly beams and joists, with no walls yet constructed.—
Emily Brindley,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The city entered into a public-private partnership with the company to construct the building on Lusk District land that was chosen for its location near the geothermal system.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The ancient Greek philosopher Zeno used it to concoct all sorts of paradoxes.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Since the advent of TV and radio, public figures have concocted deliberate soundbites to stick out and persuade the public.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
End-to-end encryption had been invented, but not widely adopted, and so the powerful often used Gmail and Outlook like the rest of us.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2026
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Shoutout to whoever invented those winter hats with the earflaps on them.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Back in 2022, Schaefer borrowed an idea from his time at Mississippi State as a way to drum up fan support.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The Other Art Fair will feature a creative, interactive art installation that will also help drum up funds for the cause.—
Charlie Vargas,
Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trump up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trump%20up. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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