cracked

1 of 2

adjective

1
a
: broken (as by a sharp blow) so that the surface is fissured
cracked china
b
: broken into coarse particles
cracked wheat
c
: marked by harshness, dissonance, or failure to sustain a tone
a cracked voice
2
informal + disparaging : marked by thought or action that lacks reason

cracked

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of crack entry 1

Examples of cracked in a Sentence

Adjective The vase is cracked but it can still hold water. the cracked leather of the old chair His hands were sore and cracked from working long hours in the cold. Her lips are dried and cracked.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
And everything’s not exactly rosy in the core business, which still is dealing with a cracked, state-by-state regulatory environment. Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025 Perform a visual inspection Look for cracked or frayed cables or other obvious signs of damage. Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025 Galls can begin semisoft but harden with a cracked surface over time, though plants won’t necessarily display symptoms the same season or year they were infected. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2023 In recent years, several stretches of the aqueduct system have been drained to allow replacement of cracked and bulging sections of century-old concrete. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for cracked

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1503, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cracked was in 1503

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cracked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cracked. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

cracked

adjective
1
: broken into coarse pieces
cracked corn
2
informal : not mentally sound
used disparagingly

More from Merriam-Webster on cracked

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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