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Personally, the word trump/trumped is overshadowed by ugly American politics and I would prefer not to write/speak it unless absolutely necessary.

I see the comments saying that no one would associate the two meanings within a given context and that it is pointless to try and substitute a word that has been used for a long time, but I just don't want to use it. It has too much meaning for me and I do not want to write it down.

Consider the following sentence:

Miguel's hand revealed that he had indeed trumped Jack's queen of spades.

What would a good alternative to trumped be?

I have looked at and ruled out all the following potential synonyms:

Definition:

to surpass in excellence or quality, especially by a wide margin; be superior

Reasoning:

Cards aren't superior to each other.

Definition:

to draw attention away from.

Reasoning:

The cards aren't drawing attention away from each other.

Definition:

If one thing is eclipsed by a second thing that is bigger, newer, or more important than it, the first thing is no longer noticed because the second thing gets all the attention.

Reasoning:

The cards aren't drawing attention away from each other.

Definition:

to become better, greater, or stronger than.

Reasoning:

The cards aren't better, greater, or stronger than each other.

Definition:

to surpass in execution or performance.

Reasoning:

Cards can not surpass each other, nor can they surpass in execution or performance.

Definition:

to do well in a particular job or activity compared to others of a similar type.

Reasoning:

Cards can do well in a job or activity because they don't have any. They are only objects.

So what word should I use instead of trumped?

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    Using any other word here would involve a non-standard usage. The answer is not to let personal non-preferences (or rather what is seen as an undesirable association) win over good established usages / conventions.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Feb 5, 2021 at 18:58
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    You can’t change that particular usage instance because it is refering to the card game directly. Where you can change it is where you’re using it metaphorically in a different context.
    – Jim
    Feb 5, 2021 at 19:34
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    I once read an account of a 19th century English explorer, lost in an African jungle, who thought he was doomed, but he saw the light of a fire and heard faint voices. He went towards it, and, as he grew closer, he heard a voice ring out - "You f*****g bastard, you've trumped my ace!". He wrote later: "It was at that moment that I knew I was in the company of Christians and gentlemen".
    – Michael Harvey
    Feb 5, 2021 at 21:14
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    @MichaelHarvey Is this why Seven No-Trump outbids everybody? :)
    – tchrist ♦
    Feb 5, 2021 at 22:35
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    The association of a word with a controversial political figure is not a good reason for altering the rules of a game. But it would not be difficult.
    – Tuffy
    Feb 5, 2021 at 23:07

3 Answers 3

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In a gaming context (especially poker and other card games, as you seem to be implying), I would recommend outrank. Cards and hands have ranks and typically the winning card is based on the relative rankings.

From Merriam-Webster:

Outrank
transitive verb
1: to rank higher than
2: to exceed in importance

However, in the context of bridge (if that is what you are talking about), you don't really have any good options. The trump suit has that name and you can't really change it anymore than you can rename the king in chess.

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5

Etymologically, the word trump in card games was derived from the word triumph, which was used for the same purpose before trump. So you could just use four-century old lingo, and say triumph.

Semantically, it makes as much sense as any of your other suggestions, and it sounds similar, so it will be easier to remember.

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  • Why use this 16th century Italian game, 'trionfi', as the basis a new name for the phenomenon? I should, personally, be unable to mutter at my partner "triumphs are diamonds, you idiot", without thinking of the word 'trump' together with controversial owner of that name. It would make me feel foolish as well as uncomfortable. It will surely go on being 'trumps' when our Donald, love him or hate him, is out of the picture entirely. Any word will do, even one meaning nothing. If you must, try "My ace was 'downed' by a 'downer'? It isn't pretty, but it does what it says.
    – Tuffy
    Feb 5, 2021 at 23:32
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    Miguel's hand revealed that he had indeed triumphed over [??] Jack's queen of spades. The trick to the context in the question is the game of bridge. Ergo, all these lists of suggestions hit that brick wall.
    – Lambie
    Feb 23, 2021 at 21:56
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beat

defeat (someone) in a game or other competitive situation. "she beat him easily at chess"

is simple and accurate and can be used regarding a card game or any other context that trump would be used.

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    Actually, for bridge this is right: Miguel's hand revealed that he had indeed beaten Jack's queen of spades. You do not deserve two downvotes. It annoys me so much when the clueless downvote the clued in. :) In fact, this is the only other term that would work in the game of bridge. Bravo.
    – Lambie
    Feb 23, 2021 at 21:54
  • @Lambie A standard rule in these kinds of card games is that you must follow suit, otherwise you lose. The exception is that a trump beats any card other than a higher-ranked trump (including joker). "Miguel's card beat Jack's queen of spades" gives no clue as to whether Miguel's card was (say) a king of spades or (say) a three of trumps. "Trumping" a card is a very specific and defined subset of "beating" a card, and therefore the generic "beat" cannot replace the specific use of "trump".
    – Chappo Hasn't Forgotten Monica
    Mar 25, 2021 at 1:48
  • @ChappoHasn'tForgottenMonica I actually do play bridge. In Bridge, if the hand is a no-trump hand, the highest card in any suit wins. If, on the other hand, there is a suit being played, the highest card in that suit wins the round. So, it is not "these kinds of cards games", it is Bridge.
    – Lambie
    Mar 25, 2021 at 14:38
  • @Lambie at no point in either the question or the above answer is the card game identified as bridge, and there are plenty of other games in which a suit can be nominated as trumps. Your emphasis on one particular card game, and one specific scenario within that game, is misplaced.
    – Chappo Hasn't Forgotten Monica
    Mar 26, 2021 at 4:48

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