BUCKETING Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

bucketing

verb

present participle of bucket

as in scooping

to lift out with something that holds liquid bucketing water from the well, we raced to put out the fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shaking

to make a series of small irregular or violent movements getting the troops into the bucketing landing craft proved to be challenging

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 bucketing Similarly revealing is our chances created grid, bucketing the start locations of every pass that has led directly to a goalscoring opportunity for a team-mate. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 10 June 2026 Six months later, the internship — some of which bore all the glamour of scrubbing bird poop and bucketing hundreds of pounds of fish as dolphin food — developed into a full-time gig as a trainer. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bucketing

Verb

Footage shared to Facebook showed the crew scooping dirt out of the sett and using flashlights to see into the underground space before Cello’s white furry face — covered in dirt — emerged.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026
Into the second half and Hincapie got in on the act, scooping over the bar in search of rugby points right in front of goal.

— Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of scooping

Verb

The chance to honor her legacy made for a poignant coincidence for an evening devoted to female power, and a reminder that, however much has changed since Steinem first began shaking things up, there is still plenty to do.

— Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
That doesn’t make their hooting, teeth-baring, chest-beating, or branch-shaking any less of an act of communication.

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of shaking

Verb

The 26-year-old took a few steps towards the slowly emptying South Stand, and, within seconds, was joined by his daughter Maria Alice, who ran out to him.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
The sky is still larger than those occupying it, and Palestine remains larger than the violence devoted to emptying it of Palestinians.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of emptying

Verb

And like any great sitcom, Friends runs the gamut from numbing brain-rot to tear-jerking sentimentality.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026
Even after a bailiff woke him up, Martin slumped over in his wheelchair, inside a courtroom bullpen, occasionally jerking and opening his eyes.

— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of jerking

Verb

Carefully turn and cook, spooning butter over, until second side is golden brown and fish is cooked through, about 3 minutes.

— Alexia Duchêne, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 July 2026
The fun part of this recipe is poking holes in the cake and then spooning in the blueberry and strawberry fillings alternately to create the red, white, and blue effect.

— Brennan Long, Southern Living, 3 July 2026

Definition of spooning

Verb

There’s the studio version, which has some really interesting production, with Meg’s shuddering percussion that eventually grates and distracts, and Jack’s very chunky guitar.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
These seemingly innocuous incidents attain new significance as they’re revisited alongside a slow crescendo that suddenly turns to shuddering piano chords on the track’s bridge.

— Nick Ayres DeMasi, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026

Definition of shuddering

Verb

But because Sara is indeed only 17, wisdom is tempered by a quivering vulnerability as the reality of her pregnancy presses upon her, body and soul, forcing her to open up to Lina and discover the possibility of solidarity.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
But each of its eight-and-a-half minutes introduces a subtle mutation, rotating buzzing electronics and quivering guitars into the spotlight.

— Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of quivering

Browse Nearby Words

bucketed

bucketing

buckets

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bucketing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bucketing. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bucketing

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

watershed

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes