as in devising
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trumping up
Verb
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The Panthers spent most of Saturday’s game (as well as their previous matchup with the Rams) devising ways to get McMillan and Coker running down the field against those small corners.—
Derrik Klassen,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026 -
The 40-year-old cooks up ways to make quarterbacks miserable in his sleep, devising schemes that are meant to lure as much as they are intended to confuse.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Both activities can be fairly ordinary hobbies—games of imagination not so different from crushing on a pop star or concocting stories about a film protagonist.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
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Later in the episode, Kody took aim at Janelle, accusing her once again of concocting a plan to try and sell Coyote Pass out from under Meri.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When researchers abruptly changed the shape or layout of the tank, the previously active neural ensemble quieted down within minutes, while a new configuration of neurons rapidly took over—constructing an entirely new spatial map.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
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The TikTok tradeoff is dynamic scanning, selecting, and constructing in return for patience, credulity, and willingness to follow direction.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Created by Terry Nation, the man credited with inventing the Daleks, Blake’s 7 aired for four seasons on the BBC from 1978 to 1981.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
19 Jan. 2026
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If your brain immediately starts inventing imaginary future scenarios, that’s often your sign the item has already served its purpose.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While the Indiana University football team prepares for Monday's College Football Playoff national championship game, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is drumming up support this weekend on social media.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
17 Jan. 2026
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Perhaps the only thing capable of drumming up a Bardian level of attention would be for a famous person—probably Julia Fox—walking the red carpet in nothing but a pair of Pleasers.—
Daniel Rodgers,
Vogue,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In the same time frame, the number of homes that are valued at $500,000 went from 5% to 25% of the city’s housing stock — making up a quarter of what’s available in Olathe.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
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Arteta ended this block of matches before the international break by being adventurous against both Newcastle and West Ham, despite slightly different personnel making up that midfield unit.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Trumping up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trumping%20up. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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