BUCKED UP Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

bucked up

verb

past tense of buck up

as in brightened

to become glad or hopeful buck up, kids, it's not so bad as you're making it out to be

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as in inspired

to fill with courage or strength of purpose a surprise presidential visit to buck up the troops

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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 bucked up While waiting for help, stay bucked up inside your vehicle. — Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bucked up

Verb

His hometown team calling his name on the opening night of the NFL Draft a few months later brightened it.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
And then the whole restaurant would have their days brightened when LeMay and Ward would burst into song, loud enough for everyone to hear.

— Heath Kalb, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of brightened

Verb

The home’s pointed arches, organic geometries, and natural materials were inspired by the earth and the sea.

— Francesca Longoni, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026
Her videos showing off her collection of unusual footwear — ranging from ’90s-era Vivienne Westwood animal paw boots to Marni loafers with hoop piercings — inspired others to do the same or find some freaky shoes of their own.

— Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of inspired

Verb

With The Keepers, Black Tomato co-founder Tom Marchant predicts that in a world where nearly anything can be looked up or generated in seconds, human knowledge and connection are the ultimate luxuries.

— Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026
The dressing room was now populated by brightly dressed women, all of whom looked up from applying makeup to stare tightly at her in the doorframe.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of looked up

Verb

Despite their harmless appearance, these exercises encouraged behaviors associated with manipulation and resistance to oversight.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
The report detailed the ways in which the app’s user design and promotions encouraged more betting — even after the reporter opted into responsible gaming tools designed to slow users down.

— Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of encouraged

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bucked

bucked up

bucket

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“Bucked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bucked%20up. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bucked up

verb

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