trumped-up 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of trumped-upnext
as in invented

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trumped up

2 of 2

verb

past tense of trump up
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trumped-up
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
Verb
But İmamoğlu has been detained, since 2025, on a string of charges of corruption and bribery which are widely believed to be trumped up and designed to bar him from ever competing against Erdoğan nationally. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026 Tran’s lawyer has called the charges trumped up and said Tran will be vindicated in the end. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trumped-up
  1. unproven
  2. devised
  3. fraudulent
  4. concocted
  5. made-up
  6. constructed
  7. mendacious
  8. invented
Adjective
  • The researchers suggested several hypotheses for why this happened, but cortisol’s purpose remains unproven.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Moreover, the Stifel analyst said that Under Armour’s pricing power is unproven, while at Nike runs the risk of more promotions ahead.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of unproven
Verb
  • Kamran Pasha has devised a truly unique take that honors the source material while expanding it in an enthralling, unexpected way.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Designed for twice-daily use, the cream is meant to be applied with a massage ritual the brand devised just for the cream—a final touch on its feel-good MO.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of devised
Adjective
  • Philadelphia police are also working with GoFundMe to prevent fraudulent fundraisers, the department said in a post on Facebook.
    — Laura Fay, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Dispute fraudulent charges and accounts, follow up on your identity theft report and request that fraudulent information be removed from your credit reports.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Verb
  • The White Sox concocted a creative playing style that blended elements of old-school small ball with home-run power.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Martha’s concocted plenty over the years, including her cider-bourbon cocktail made with apple cider, bourbon, lemon juice, ginger, and apple garnishes.
    — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of concocted
Adjective
  • Perfectly made-up, everything in place.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026
  • Parts would be missing, or made-up.
    — Kevin Brazil, Harpers Magazine, 9 June 2026
Definition of made-up
Verb
  • Consider a few clues in today’s crossword, constructed by Adam Shapiro.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Sheerazie, lead gardener at Pasadena’s Arlington Garden, has studied permaculture and designed and constructed a number of swales at the garden and elsewhere.
    — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of constructed
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of mendacious
Verb
  • Swipe-pay is vulnerable to theft because the magnetic stripe behind cards does a poor job of securing personal information, according to Scott Schober, the CEO of Berkeley Varitronics Systems who has invented several skimming detectors.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
  • That response was instantly bashed by old-school NASCAR fans who remember why the sport was invented.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of invented

Browse Nearby Words

trumped
trumped-up
trumped up
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Cite this Entry

“Trumped-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trumped-up. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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