1
as in brightens
to become glad or hopeful
buck up, kids, it's not so bad as you're making it out to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in encourages
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a surprise presidential visit to buck up the troops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bucks up
Verb
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Going farther west, however, brightens the sky even more and anywhere west of a line from approximately central Michigan, going south through east-central Kentucky to the Gulf Coast will be bathed in full daylight.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026 -
As a professional online shopper, nothing brightens up my day quite like scoring a budget-friendly haul.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The council also encourages Gary leadership to participate in any IURC proceedings and asks for the Indiana General Assembly to biannually review utility delivery charge actions and pursue reforms.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Channeling Abbie Hoffman, Tolentino encourages people to steal from her own employer, The New Yorker, but does not explain which high crimes David Remnick has committed to earn this comeuppance.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Greta keeps her grasp and looks up at Miranda's face.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson looks up at the scoreboard during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the American Airlines Center on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Dallas.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
21 Apr. 2026
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Paul Revere’s ride inspires us to rally behind a cause like helping war victims and to spread the word to ignite action.—
William Lambers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Bucks up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bucks%20up. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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