1
as in collapsed
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the flimsy bridge buckled under the weight of the caravan of trucks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devoted
to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention
buckled himself down and finished the assignment in record time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buckled
Wanner’s 11-month-old baby was buckled into a high chair and crying, without her mom, when a relative arrived to the home that day.
—
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The entire roster took that edict to heart in Game 1, and the Timberwolves buckled under the pressure.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Throughout Season 51, sketches have buckled under dragging runtimes, one-note jokes bludgeoned to death and facile concepts; earlier this year, another first time host, Teyana Taylor, was similarly let down by sketches that couldn’t match her depth and range as a performer.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026
There was no single day when the AI stock market euphoria buckled, no Lehman moment, no front-page meltdown.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
In August on the Petco Park mound a comebacker struck his knee, which buckled, and he was carted off the field.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Mar. 2026
If children aren’t properly buckled, the driver faces fines up to $250.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
The Fire Marshal's Office said while more than 100 people gathered in a building called the Sap House at the venue, the floor buckled creating a 20-foot by 20-foot opening and sending about 70 people into the basement.
—CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Tagliafico was sent off in the 89th for a violent lunge on Lamine Camara, whose left foot buckled under him.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The entire roster took that edict to heart in Game 1, and the Timberwolves buckled under the pressure.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Throughout Season 51, sketches have buckled under dragging runtimes, one-note jokes bludgeoned to death and facile concepts; earlier this year, another first time host, Teyana Taylor, was similarly let down by sketches that couldn’t match her depth and range as a performer.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026
There was no single day when the AI stock market euphoria buckled, no Lehman moment, no front-page meltdown.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
In August on the Petco Park mound a comebacker struck his knee, which buckled, and he was carted off the field.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Mar. 2026
If children aren’t properly buckled, the driver faces fines up to $250.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
The Fire Marshal's Office said while more than 100 people gathered in a building called the Sap House at the venue, the floor buckled creating a 20-foot by 20-foot opening and sending about 70 people into the basement.
—CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Tagliafico was sent off in the 89th for a violent lunge on Lamine Camara, whose left foot buckled under him.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buckled
Verb
-
At the same time, however, the study documented dimming events including in Ukraine and Gaza as wars unfolded, in Venezuela as the economy collapsed, and in parts of Europe when governments enacted energy conservation mandates following the Russia-Ukraine war.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
Some officers were killed in the exchange of fire, while others died after part of the building collapsed, according to local police.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The 1901 building code devoted just three brief paragraphs to stair width, treads, and risers.—
Michelle Sinclair Colman,
Curbed,
7 May 2026
-
With its winding paths, extensive planting, and choreographed vistas offering views of four states, Olana is a sort of Gesamtkunstwerk to which Church devoted the final decades of his career.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Midway through the second period, Dorofeyev blocked a slap shot off the inside of his knee and crumpled to the ice in pain.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
The hardcore ankle boots are now dehydrated and crumpled.—
Liana Satenstein,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Verb
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DeepMind has also applied its AI systems to fields including genetics, computer coding, and weather prediction.—
Alison Eldridge,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
11 May 2026
-
Enthralled by Felipe Rose, a go-go boy decked out in Native American regalia at the Anvil, a notorious gay Manhattan disco, Morali applied that approach to his next conceptual act, Village People.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Arm Holdings — The semiconductor company reversed earlier gains and tumbled 7% on underwhelming guidance.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
-
All five girls jumped off the couch, stampeded toward the apartment door, and tumbled into the building’s stairwell, stepping on each other’s heels.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The reliever, who had previously kept the ball in the park all year, also gave one up to the Brewers’ Jake Bauers in the Yankees’ loss on Saturday.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
-
The historian learned not only the date of the house, but that the property’s first buyer was Thomas Clark, who later likely gave it to a son, Jonah Clark, upon his wedding to Sarah Northrop.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buckled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buckled. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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