BUCKING UP Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

bucking up

verb

present participle of buck up

as in looking up

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 inspiring

to fill with courage or strength of purpose a surprise presidential visit to buck up the troops

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for bucking up

Verb

Looking down showed an unforgiving shaft to hard ground, while looking up only reminded me of the hundreds of feet left to ascend.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
The photo, printed in a local daily newspaper in Mississippi where McLain’s family is from, showed her mom holding baby McLain in her arms and looking up at a tall plant in her mother’s garden.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of looking up

Verb

From low pH water toners to milkier formulas packed with brightening ingredients like rice extract—consider these picks as formulas that set the canvas for a supple complexion.

— Kiana Murden, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2026
The fragrance-free formula contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which are the best lightweight, skin-brightening humectants for hydrating parched skin.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of brightening

Verb

Several featured in a short film aimed at encouraging people to have the confidence to start a conversation about suicide.

— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
At its height, the group controlled vast territory and millions of people in Iraq and Syria while encouraging or directing attacks far beyond its borders.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of encouraging

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.

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bucking

bucking up

buckle

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“Bucking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bucking%20up. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bucking up

verb

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