BUCKS UP Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

bucks up

verb

present tense third-person singular of buck up

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

This 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner is an earthy, leathery scent that opens with a cheerful pop of mandarin, which brightens up the richer notes of rose, osmanthus, and vetiver.

— Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Aug. 2026
Its dewy coverage gives cheeks a bright, doll-like, natural flush that highlights the cheekbones and brightens complexions.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of brightens

Verb

There is an agency in charge of enforcing the rules with the objective of putting guardrails around a spending spree exacerbated by a transfer portal that encourages players to seek better offers from different schools.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Painting outdoors offers a slower, more immersive experience that encourages observation, patience, and connection with nature.

— George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of encourages

Verb

By contrast, a research assistant who simply looks up stock market data from Brazil, for example, could easily be replaced by AI.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
The stunner builds upon the boat builder’s existing Ultima 55 but adds a dose of Brabus’s propensity for dialing performance and looks up to 11.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 July 2026

Definition of looks up

Verb

This shift inspires a fresh collection of cocktail ideas, artfully blending vibrant summer fruits like pineapple, peach, and grapefruit with autumnal notes of cranberry and maraschino cherry.

— John Kell, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
That sentiment inspires Sony Vizha – a celebration of Tamil culture, deeply rooted in emotion and imagined for a wider world.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of inspires

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.

Browse Nearby Words

buckskins

bucks up

buck up

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bucks up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bucks%20up. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bucks up

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

august

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes