trumped-up

[ truhmpt-uhp ]

adjective

1. spuriously devised; fraudulent; fabricated:

   He was arrested on some trumped-up charge.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trumped-up¹

1720–30; special use of trump ¹; -ed ²

Example Sentences

“So now we are very sensitive to American customers, your American government always likes to make some trumped-up charges to sanction us.”

From Los Angeles Times

“This is a trumped-up charge. I sympathise with her very much.”

From BBC

He finished in the top four in 34 of 59 tournaments until a trumped-up charge was brought against him by the Tour and he was banned.

From BBC

Instead, they were arrested on trumped-up obscenity charges and subjected to expensive litigation before the case against them was thrown out for lack of evidence.

From Los Angeles Times

His government faces accusations of stifling dissent, with leading opposition figures jailed on what they say are trumped-up charges.

From BBC