as in relinquishes
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
finally got my brother to cough up the dough he owed me
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Recent Examples of coughs up
Each room coughs up its contents like a kid with consumption.
—
Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2025
Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coughs up
Verb
-
Could this be the anarchic mind that emerges when the ego relinquishes its hold?—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere, unless Carolina relinquishes his rights by not offering him a tender.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When cooked from frozen, the fat renders gradually for even browning.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The directive, contained in a memo obtained by the New York Times, reverses long-standing ICE policy and effectively renders the warrant requirement itself empty.—
Noah Feldman,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Peter then surrenders to Catherine, who demands his explanation for going AWOL.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
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Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby are the secret weapons, and Nora Ephron's script never surrenders to sentimentality.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
USA Today,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Creatine supplements that work and don’t taste chalky This Jolly Rancher Cherry creatine delivers 5 grams per serving (the standard effective dose backed by research).—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
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But that move has always struck me as a little goofy in an introduction, like the teacher who delivers her lecture on punctuality to a bunch of empty seats.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When the sport’s governing body standardized its current judging system at the Olympics 20 years ago, a quadruple jump — that’s four full turns in the air before landing — was barely a customary skill for male skaters.—
Robert Samuels,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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And like the hairpin turns in the production all across the album, Jah-Monte approaches themes from different angles and pivots without breaking a sweat.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coughs up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coughs%20up. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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