as in invented
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as in devised
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 trumped-up
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Nov. 2023
Erdogan’s government has thrown (or attempted to throw) a number of key political opponents into jail on what critics say are trumped-up, spurious charges.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 10 May 2023
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
Adjective
The charge was clearly trumped-up, but Yundi was immediately taken off all Chinese stages and media and prevented from going abroad.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Nov. 2023
Erdogan’s government has thrown (or attempted to throw) a number of key political opponents into jail on what critics say are trumped-up, spurious charges.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 10 May 2023
Verb
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 trumped-up
Verb
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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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The equal time rules were devised at a time when consumers had a limited number of media options.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In this vacuum, supplements, unproven interventions, and their charismatic advocates thrive.—
Andrew S. Brack,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
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The problem is most nutraceutical products — that is, dietary supplements used for medicinal purposes — are unproven.—
Elise Felicione,
STAT,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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Paul Simon, who was headed to retirement amid debilitating hearing loss, has concocted a helpful new stage monitor setup that has him back on the road.—
BRIAN MCCOLLUM,
Freep.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Overall, the racket generated almost $600 million in fraudulent billings.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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During the hearing, prosecutors said, Hamdan admitted to using his two pharmacies to submit false or fraudulent prescription claims.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Our very own Karissa Waddick talked to Ricker about the time capsule and how all 50 states will contribute to it, where it will be placed and how it'll be constructed to keep its contents safe for a quarter-millennium.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
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That building was constructed in 1986, which was before Hurricane Andrew struck and subsequently spurred stricter building codes.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Cook said his team detected a variety of age manipulation: synthetic fraud, in which real, stolen and made-up information is used to create a new identity; identity fraud; and document fraud.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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That story was 100 percent insane and made-up, and not a word of it is true.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The prize was awarded for the work Langmuir had done sixteen years earlier on molecular monolayers, work that essentially invented the field of surface chemistry.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
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After all, there’s a reason that nonstick pans were invented.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
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Supporters of recent state AI regulations said the measures will address potential threats to public safety and personal privacy, and to counter any mendacious actions created by AI, while not hindering innovation.—
Hope Moses,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trumped-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trumped-up. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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