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 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
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, a growing number of Russian citizens has been arrested on trumped up charges and later accused of crimes, such as treason, that would justify a more serious sentence.
—Francesca Mastruzzo (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 14 Jan. 2024
Some of those on sent to the island, had been arrested on trumped up charges, or false accusations aimed at settling old scores, while the prison population also included hardened criminals.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
In announcing the pardon, the president essentially claimed—without acknowledging the irony in his words—that the charges against this son were somehow trumped up by his own Justice Department.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
Whelan had been held for more than five years by Russian authorities on what his family and the U.S. government insisted were trumped up charges of espionage.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 1 Aug. 2024
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
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, a growing number of Russian citizens has been arrested on trumped up charges and later accused of crimes, such as treason, that would justify a more serious sentence.
—Francesca Mastruzzo (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 14 Jan. 2024
Some of those on sent to the island, had been arrested on trumped up charges, or false accusations aimed at settling old scores, while the prison population also included hardened criminals.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
In announcing the pardon, the president essentially claimed—without acknowledging the irony in his words—that the charges against this son were somehow trumped up by his own Justice Department.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
Whelan had been held for more than five years by Russian authorities on what his family and the U.S. government insisted were trumped up charges of espionage.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 1 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trump up
Verb
-
Before the Frazier and Foreman fight was devised, former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was stripped of the title.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Then again, maybe the first ASI wants to have ASI pals and therefore devises additional ASIs accordingly.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Like all On shoes, they’re constructed to have a soft, cloudlike feel, so your feet won’t get sore during your all-day adventure.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Mar. 2025
-
In some cases, the title of the episode and the way the episode is constructed really does draw on that source.—
Lexy Perez,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But White Sox concessions partner Levy Restaurants has concocted a new milkshake — the Celebration Cake Shake.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Born less than three months apart to devout religious families in the industrial Midwest, Prince and Jackson probably had a lot to talk about when they weren’t holed up in their Xanadu-like mansions concocting their unique blends of soul-funk-disco alchemy.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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So far, President Donald Trump has invented a bunch of bogus ones and Congress almost opened the door to a real one when Democrats contemplated allowing a government shutdown last week.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
-
The automatic flour mill was invented in the late 1700s.—
Ken Fleming,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The rescue recently posted about the pup on Facebook in hopes of drumming up more adoption interest.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Now, five Japanese players are set to headline Major League Baseball’s season opener in Tokyo on Tuesday in a contest between the Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs meant to drum up interest in MLB abroad.—
Kimmy Yam,
NBC News,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trump up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trump%20up. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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