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
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
Airports have recently buckled under the funding gap, with travelers suffering through long lines at security checkpoints as agents call out of work rather than toil without pay.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
The middle of the bridge buckled so badly that the first train to cross it essentially split in half.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2026
Stay in the vehicle with their seatbelt buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
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
Airports have recently buckled under the funding gap, with travelers suffering through long lines at security checkpoints as agents call out of work rather than toil without pay.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
The middle of the bridge buckled so badly that the first train to cross it essentially split in half.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2026
Stay in the vehicle with their seatbelt buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buckled
Verb
-
As the operation collapsed, the messages show the men scrambling for protection and escape routes.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In August 2021, as Kabul collapsed and Afghans crowded the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin — then a Republican member of Congress from Oklahoma — tried to travel to Afghanistan.—
Peter Lucier,
Washington Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lassere and Ross-Lonergan, along with thousands of others, have devoted their careers to investigating this tiny and almost perfectly inert speck.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The upper levels are devoted exclusively to computer science, with administrative offices, individual faculty offices, and smaller research and study spaces for students.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Video shows two people rushing out of a motorcoach waiting at the red light and running over to the victim lying crumpled on the street, while a pedestrian also rushes over to her from the curb.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Whatever the plan was last year, Mougey and Glenn crumpled it up and threw it in the trash.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As it’s applied today, the law allows trial attorneys to prey on the state’s small and mid-sized businesses — filing frivolous, costly lawsuits over even the most minor violation of California’s complex labor code.—
Tom Manzo,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Ramos is eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and applied, but the program remains halted for new applicants after a yearlong battle in court that challenges the program.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors led by Assistant State Attorney Rich Buxman of the Fifth Judicial Circuit relied on testimony by Green’s neighbors, who claimed Hunter and Green tumbled down the stairs during the argument.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In a hopeful sign for the downtown struggling office market, the owner of an iconic office tower that tumbled into foreclosure has reached a settlement with its lender to regain control of the 23-story building, in a purchase that will include a new ownership arrangement with a longtime partner.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The baroness gave Epstein interior design tips and picked out antique furniture and vases worth more than $500,000 for the financier to buy for his properties.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Artemis 2 looped around the moon's far side today (April 6), in a nearly seven-hour encounter that gave its four astronauts views of Earth's nearest neighbor that human eyes had never seen before.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buckled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buckled. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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