rack 1 of 2

Definition of racknext

rack

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rack different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rack are afflict, torment, torture, and try. While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

When would afflict be a good substitute for rack?

Although the words afflict and rack have much in common, afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.

ills that afflict the elderly

When is it sensible to use torment instead of rack?

The meanings of torment and rack largely overlap; however, torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

Where would torture be a reasonable alternative to rack?

The words torture and rack can be used in similar contexts, but torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

When is try a more appropriate choice than rack?

The words try and rack are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

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
Noun
Ovens see a lot of messes from foods that spill onto the bottom or racks that can become burnt overtime the longer the messes sit and bake. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026 The best magazine racks, our editors have discovered, corral and curate their many, many copies of Architectural Digest (obviously), furthering their ever-fitful attempts to force their living rooms into shape. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
But this time, he’s racked with guilt that everything that is happening is his fault. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026 Not much has been lately for the Bulls, who have tumbled back down the Eastern Conference standings as injuries rack the roster. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rack
Noun
  • Topping it off are outstanding truck virtues, from its off-road-ready all-wheel-drive system to its 11,000-pound maximum towing capacity to the clever cargo storage area between the cab and bed.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Bedsure Pet is an extension label of Bedsure Home; much like its parent brand, Bedsure Pet is known for making comfortable home products that are equal parts cozy and functional, with top-selling options that range from orthopedic pet beds to pet blankets and more.
    Kyley Warren, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Other geese that were still alive were experiencing distress, Halter said.
    Joe Brandt, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • This bleeds into how damages are assessed in the aftermath of an accident, as everything from medical bills to lost wages and emotional distress are critical element that will be legally considered.
    William Jones, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • That first test flight was also plagued by hydrogen fuel leaks before blasting off, as well as a helium issue similar to the one that arose Saturday.
    Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Nell Tiger Free stars as a young novice who works at a Catholic orphanage plagued by mysterious, disturbing circumstances.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Other technologies that could be phased out include waste heat recovery systems that pull heat from the car’s engine to the interior, solar reflective surface coating and high efficacy exterior lights.
    Julian Torres, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
  • McIlroy got a four at the par-five first to pull even with the leaders, who both birdied it themselves 10 minutes later to move to 13 under.
    Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Abandoned at the airport with nothing but a leash and a lot of confusion, a young goldendoodle has landed somewhere better than any arrival gate — on the couch of the officer who rescued him.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Fishback’s rhetoric couches religious bigotry in the language of economic populism.
    Steven Burg, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The spiraling cost of foodstuffs has been an increasing focus of consumer pain, with cucumbers becoming the most recent lightning rod for popular discontent.
    Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Later that month, Giuffre was admitted to a hospital in New York for pain in her abdomen.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • But so often left unsaid by Gu are the moral ambiguities that come with choosing to represent a country that has been heavily criticized by Human Rights Watch, among other watchdog groups, for denying rights of freedom of expression and for persecuting government critics.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • On tour, Weir’s exercise gear, including resistance ropes, took up so much space in the bus that others on the tour had to stash their luggage in their own bunks.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
  • With about 5 feet by 7 feet below the bunk, a desk fits comfortably as does a craft table, a small futon, and many, many fort iterations.
    Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rack. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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