1
as in yanked
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
the car bucked and stalled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in resisted
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 handed
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
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
Delivered by Heesen in 2015, the fully custom 499 GT superyacht, then called Sibelle, bucked convention with exterior styling considered radical at the time.
—
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2026
Kiley has occasionally bucked GOP leadership on procedural matters and previously voted against a House rule that would have blocked consideration of tariff repeal measures.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 12 Feb. 2026
While much of the country faced stagnant hiring, Charlotte bucked the trend by continuing to secure major corporate investments.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
But recent results have bucked that trend, as my colleague Mike Sando noted in this week’s Pick Six column.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
One area of American life, however, has bucked the trend.
—Paul Putz, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Tuesday’s vote in Moreno Valley bucked that trend.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Asia-Pacific markets bucked the trend and mostly rose Wednesday even as software stocks in the region also declined.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
The deal came together after Democrats blocked the initial six-bill package from advancing Thursday morning, joined by a number of Republicans who bucked their leadership to air grievances with the package or the emerging deal with Democrats.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2026
Kiley has occasionally bucked GOP leadership on procedural matters and previously voted against a House rule that would have blocked consideration of tariff repeal measures.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 12 Feb. 2026
While much of the country faced stagnant hiring, Charlotte bucked the trend by continuing to secure major corporate investments.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
But recent results have bucked that trend, as my colleague Mike Sando noted in this week’s Pick Six column.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
One area of American life, however, has bucked the trend.
—Paul Putz, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Tuesday’s vote in Moreno Valley bucked that trend.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Asia-Pacific markets bucked the trend and mostly rose Wednesday even as software stocks in the region also declined.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
The deal came together after Democrats blocked the initial six-bill package from advancing Thursday morning, joined by a number of Republicans who bucked their leadership to air grievances with the package or the emerging deal with Democrats.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bucked
Verb
-
The gloves were off and the two were grappling at each other’s jerseys for position when Crinon grabbed Wilson by the sweater and yanked him to the ice, effectively ending the fight.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The National Institutes of Health, part of HHS, also yanked dozens of research grants supporting studies of vaccine hesitancy last year.—
Amanda Seitz,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Moderna resisted, but agreed to provide test subjects with enhanced disclosures on its informed consent form, to which the FDA assented.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Black communities in Philadelphia have always resisted and mobilized for educational justice.—
Leana Cabral,
The Conversation,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With equal panache, and without cutting away, the narrative focus is handed like a baton in a relay race to the arriving Mayor Dumont (Josse De Pauw) and his daughter and press attaché Marie (Violet Braeckman).—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday handed Russia a tongue-in-cheek offer to end the war between the two countries at the Munich Security Conference.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The two stood nose-to-nose on the field when the Steelers player grabbed onto Chase’s facemask, jerked his head and appeared to punch him.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Palestinian Authority wants to govern both territories ahead of eventual statehood, something to which Israel is adamantly opposed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Bowden and three other physicians sued doctors, medical boards and the Federation of State Medical Boards, accusing them of conspiring to punish doctors who opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates and treatments that did not adhere to medical boards’ guidelines.—
Evan MacDonald,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Though Vedam fought the conviction for decades, almost 40 years passed before a team of attorneys discovered prosecutors may have withheld evidence that could have impacted the jury’s decision in his case.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Hall passed First-year Auburn Coach Steven Pearl is being tested on a couple of fronts as the Tigers near the stretch run.—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The big polar bear lurched forward, hitting top speed in two strides.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
4 Feb. 2026
-
As Matt Woosnam reflected recently, the Premier League’s feel-good story has lurched into night terrors.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In a career spanning more than two decades that reached the heights of appearing at a World Cup, Ben Foster’s time at Wrexham should, by rights, be little more than a footnote.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The former prince reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bucked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bucked. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
