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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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

This treatment has noticeably brightened and smoothed my bags, however, thanks to its ingredient roster of retinol and other skin care superstars like the PDRN- and peptide-packed picks above.

— Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 30 Aug. 2026
Around that time, the comet experienced a large outburst, which brightened it about 8,000 times.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of brightened

Verb

Though the hotel burned down twice, it was rebuilt following the more recent fire of 1925; its present-day structure is inspired by Rome’s Villa Medici.

— Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Oral healthcare doesn’t often make the global news cycle, but earlier this week Dyson added a new gadget to its product lineup that inspired a flurry of headlines.

— Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of inspired

Verb

Growing up on a farm in Callicoon, New York, Keen looked up to his dad’s impressive career, but was more intrigued by his mom’s job at first.

— Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
This week's total solar eclipse captured the world's attention, and millions of skywatchers looked up (with the correct protective eyewear, hopefully) to experience the moon blocking out our star's light.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of looked up

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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 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bucked up

verb

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