Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

bucked

[buhkt] / bʌkt /
ADJECTIVE
cheerful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
animated bright buoyant cheery chipper chirpy effervescent enthusiastic good-natured happy jaunty jolly joyful lighthearted lively merry optimistic peppy perky pleasant rosy sanguine sunny upbeat
WEAK
airy blithe bouncy contented enlivening full of pep gay glad gladsome good-humored hearty high hilarious hopeful in good spirits in high spirits jocund roseate snappy sparkling sprightly up vivacious winsome zappy zingy zippy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
apathetic cloudy depressed depressing down dull gloomy heavy-hearted hopeless inactive lethargic lifeless not happy pale pessimistic sad serious sorrowful unenthusiastic unhappy upset
WEAK
cheerless grave heavy melancholy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They have bucked up, buttercup, and look at them now.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

It also bucked the trend that normally means horror films don't perform well at award ceremonies.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

He even bucked decades of US policy by conceding that North Korea was "sort of a nuclear power".

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

The French energy major has also bucked the trend on its reserve replacement ratio and is materially outperforming peers, they add.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Wal-Mart employees who have bucked the company—by getting involved in a unionization drive or by suing the company for failing to pay overtime—have been fired for breaking the company rule against using profanity.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.