1
as in yanking
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
the car bucked and stalled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in resisting
to refuse to give in to
bucked the trend to outdo everyone else and just wore the same clothes they had in previous years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in handing
to shift possession of (something) from one person to another
buck each box to the next person in line, and the last person will stack them in the storeroom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bucking
Featuring around 80 artworks from the past eight decades, the exhibition underscores connections between intergenerational and international artists with a knack for bucking conventions.
—
Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 15 May 2026
On May 13 the 33-year-old pop star attended Dior’s exclusive cruise show in Los Angeles, bucking resortwear norms with a double-denim look paired with sleek black accessories with cool silver hardware.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 14 May 2026
Rosser-Sumpter says the PWR Championship will mark the first time since 2008 that a women's rodeo organization has included bull riding or bucking horse riding in an event.
—Madison Sawyer, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Besides the freedom of road-tripping, the spirit of Route 66 is about independent businesses bucking the odds on the road less traveled.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The pair is also bucking the negative performance of the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, which is down nearly 16% in 2026.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Luxury retail remained resilient during China‘s five-day Labor Day holiday — bucking a broader trend of cautious consumer spending — according to foot traffic data gathered by Bernstein across 10 high-end malls in four major cities.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Following his own entitlement, Jack advocates for having fun and bucking against the confines of the adult world.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 May 2026
Cunningham, who lost a three-person Democratic primary in March after bucking her party on a veto override vote, is now registered as an unaffiliated voter.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 15 May 2026
On May 13 the 33-year-old pop star attended Dior’s exclusive cruise show in Los Angeles, bucking resortwear norms with a double-denim look paired with sleek black accessories with cool silver hardware.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 14 May 2026
Rosser-Sumpter says the PWR Championship will mark the first time since 2008 that a women's rodeo organization has included bull riding or bucking horse riding in an event.
—Madison Sawyer, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Besides the freedom of road-tripping, the spirit of Route 66 is about independent businesses bucking the odds on the road less traveled.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The pair is also bucking the negative performance of the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, which is down nearly 16% in 2026.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Luxury retail remained resilient during China‘s five-day Labor Day holiday — bucking a broader trend of cautious consumer spending — according to foot traffic data gathered by Bernstein across 10 high-end malls in four major cities.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Following his own entitlement, Jack advocates for having fun and bucking against the confines of the adult world.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 May 2026
Cunningham, who lost a three-person Democratic primary in March after bucking her party on a veto override vote, is now registered as an unaffiliated voter.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bucking
Verb
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The lifeguard pursued me in a gray metal dinghy with a bullhorn, ordering me out of the water and yanking me up over the side of his boat.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
Essentially, yanking gravity away is another tool, just like temperature or pressure, that drug manufacturers can apply to improve their products.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Saturday when the long-running contract negotiations broke down over the wage and cost-of-living increases that workers are demanding and the MTA has been resisting.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
-
Eatherly’s previous arrest came after another incident on Saturday, when he was kicked out of a restaurant in Nashville and later arrested and charged with theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to an affidavit.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz walked four and hit a batter with a pitch in the first two innings, but the right-hander retired 12 straight batters — six by strikeout — from the third through the sixth before handing the ball to the bullpen.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
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Instead of handing your passport to an immigration officer, eligible travelers can scan their passport themselves, step into a gate, and look into a camera that matches their face to the biometric photo stored in their passport chip.—
Bailey Berg,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Avoid jerking the floss or aggressive movements; instead, use smooth, gentle motions.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
12 May 2026
-
During their first night together, just for an instant, Nikki appears to glitch, jerking back mid-kiss and looking at him with blind panic instead of undying affection.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
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As a maker, these opposing qualities are persistent and present throughout every part of the process.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
The Broncos literally presented the NFL’s toughest assignment for opposing quarterbacks.—
Sam McDowell
Updated May 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Verb
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The Broncos have revamped their passing offense this offseason after the acquisition of Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
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The two scores gave Dorofeyev nine for the playoffs, passing Howden for the league lead.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The Wall Street wine guys of the eighties, now elderly, seem to be pulling the ladder up behind them.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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This entire island’s economy used to depend on them pulling the heavy wooden wheels of old-school olive presses.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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These are some of the heaviest grooves that Seefeel have created in ages, channeling lurching currents through intricate chains of dub delay.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
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The ladies haven’t had that problem, lurching out of the gate like the racehorses at Ascot.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bucking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bucking. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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