1
as in bed
a place set aside for sleeping
the clock struck midnight, signaling that it was time to hit the rack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
suffering the rack of a sprained ankle, the climber had to make his way back down the mountain to camp felt the rack of regret after losing her temper with her teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
the young man was racked with guilt over the lie he had told to his parents the country has been racked by years of civil war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pull
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
she racked her brain trying to remember where she'd put the money the sails of the boat were racked by the storm's winds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of rack
Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Soak racks with baking soda, hot water, and dish soap, then scrub, rinse, and dry.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
So, too, is the notion that our schools are racked by culture wars.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rack
Noun
Investigators learned that a short while before the shooting, a man stopped a Route 37 SEPTA bus at the intersection of 64th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard, took a bike off the bus's front bike rack, and fled.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Soak racks with baking soda, hot water, and dish soap, then scrub, rinse, and dry.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
These days, the film industry is racked with anxiety about impending corporate mergers, uneven box-office returns, the rise of artificial intelligence and other nail-biting twists.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
So, too, is the notion that our schools are racked by culture wars.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rack
Noun
-
The bed is surrounded by almost 360 degrees of glass, and schools of fish, octopus and squid regularly travel by (at night, dim lights are activated to attract nocturnal marine life).—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Today, his office oversees full-service patrol, investigations, warrant and civil divisions, a 400-bed facility and nearly 200 employees.—
Angela George,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The visits focus on loneliness and emotional distress, issues that many survivors say have intensified amid the war in Ukraine and rising antisemitism in the United States.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The demonstrations, sparked by economic distress and anger at Iran’s clerical rulers, were met with a sweeping crackdown that activists say has killed thousands.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But for decades, sections of it have been plagued by the dumping of toxic chemicals and untreated sewage.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
This has gradually caused difficulties in living her own life as she is plagued with violent memories.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Bulldogs pulled within 69-66 with just over nine minutes remaining, but the Aggies answered with back-to-back three-pointers from Ali Dibba and Jacari Lane to regain control.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Video shows the girl carefully pulling a coaster from the tower before the entire structure cascades downward in seconds, prompting audible reactions from spectators.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There are worse things to do than curl up on the couch with a good movie, a warm blanket, a hot cup of cocoa or tea, and perhaps someone to share it all with.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The company highlights everyday scenarios such as locating keys stuck between couch cushions or finding a wallet before leaving home.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The executive order cited a 2023 FDA review that found scientific support for the use of medical marijuana to treat pain, anorexia and nausea/vomiting.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This is the latest step forward for Jackson’s Shoe Gummi business, which began as an answer to the pain people experience while wearing high heels.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has promised to help rescue the country’s persecuted protesters as thousands died.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Feb. 2026
-
During vetting by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, refugees are required to show they were persecuted or face persecution in their home countries and, once in the US, must apply for green cards a year after admission.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This train-car-style rover, run by Natural Habitat Adventure, has private bunk rooms and observation decks to watch for the aurora and polar bears, with bear safaris by day, too.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Few things shake the confidence of a person like crawling to the top bunk of a quivering bed frame, your feet wrapping uncomfortably along the frail metal rungs of the ladder.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rack. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
