1
as in brightened
to become glad or hopeful
buck up, kids, it's not so bad as you're making it out to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inspired
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a surprise presidential visit to buck up the troops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bucked up
While waiting for help, stay bucked up inside your vehicle.
—
Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bucked up
Verb
-
Her ability to observe and relate her observations and insights with clarity brightened the pages of various publications over many years.—
Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Despite Martin’s rough start in the job, the party’s spirits had brightened considerably after November 4, when Democrats scored double-digit wins in the Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Every detail of the interiors reflects the soul of the island, from the famous divi divi tree motif to the color palette inspired by coral reefs and the iconic parrotfish.—
José Cantillo Ferrer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Shaped by his understanding of this relationship between art and politics, it was infused with visual elements inspired by Gaza.—
Zoe Whitfield,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bea Kim looked up to Chloe Kim.—
Alex Connor,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
When the song ended, Puth stepped back from his keyboard and looked up, clearly overwhelmed, at the crowd and the sky.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Schwartz encouraged the public to be active participants in community science.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Organizers encouraged people to join to stand together in love, peace and prayer.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bucked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bucked%20up. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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