as in to apply (oneself)
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buckle (down)
Verb
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The project was selected for the AFM market pitch in 2020 but faced prolonged development setbacks during the pandemic, with casting remaining the central challenge.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026 -
The reality is that almost any pitch in deGrom’s arsenal could qualify for this list, but given the exceptionally high response rate for one in particular, his four-seam fastball is the winner.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In survival mode, many brands have been forced to knuckle down and fortify their business strategies, in hopes of setting them up for success against a difficult backdrop.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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After a 3-1 defeat at Fulham in September, Howe pulled Isak aside and told him to knuckle down.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If and when a new CDC director nominee is named, and if that individual manages to win confirmation from a Senate that is showing itself increasingly willing to dig in its heels on presidential appointments, the hard work will just be starting.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
30 Mar. 2026
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Let’s dig in and take a closer look at the other important events on our radar.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Magadan had a deadly reputation in the Stalin era, as a hub for Gulag mines where political prisoners slaved sometimes to death and produced gold and other minerals in the process.—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
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Po’s journey begins while slaving away at his boring noodle job on the day the Dragon Warrior is to be chosen.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Brian Cashman gets it all the time, but good, from Yankee fans; for them, banging away at Cashman on social media feels like the real national pastime.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
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Former staff leaked internal spats and embarrassing editorial ideas by the new leadership and pointed out that many top leaders were banging away at stories that were likely below their pay grade.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
9 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Buckle (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buckle%20%28down%29. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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