crack 1 of 3

verb

ˈkrak How to pronounce crack (audio)
Definition of cracknext
1
as in to pop
to break suddenly with an explosive sound the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight

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2
as in to choke
to yield to mental or emotional stress after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession

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3
as in to decipher
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language the United States military used the Navajo language as a code during World War II, and the enemy never cracked it

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4
as in to knock
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner cracked the bow of the ship with a champagne bottle

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5
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it

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6
as in to bother
to cause to go insane or as if insane cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently

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crack

2 of 3

noun

1
as in fissure
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure a pebble struck the car's windshield and left a spidery crack in it

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2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument a disciplinary crack on the hand with a ruler was once common in schoolrooms

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3
as in bang
a loud explosive sound the tree fell with a sharp crack

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4
as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something this is my first crack at painting

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5
as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing

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6
as in nut
a person of odd or whimsical habits that conspiracy theorist has been labeled a crack by the ballistics experts

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crack

3 of 3

adjective

as in skilled
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor known as one of the college's crack tennis players

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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 crack
Verb
However, Apple hasn't disclosed exactly how many devices are affected or identified what's causing the screens to crack. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026 According to reports at the time, Gabor apparently heard Sommer crack a joke about Gabor’s weight. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
Some users of Apple's first foldable phone were pleased with their purchases, while others reported screen cracks. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 Market jitters over potential cracks in the AI boom have also caused a number of smaller IPOs to put their plans on hold. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
  1. pop
  2. choke
  3. decipher
  4. knock
  5. solve
  6. bother
  7. fissure
  8. blow
Verb
  • The film will use that mix, with giant creatures popping up around town as a surreal backdrop, to probe the pull between difference and belonging, and between freedom and commitment.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Third-string tight end Luke Schoonmaker is also questionable to play with a groin injury that popped up in Thursday’s practice.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of pop
Verb
  • Finally, Europe needs the ability to retaliate when China or the United States threatens to choke it.
    — Claas Mertens, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But the real culprit is his failing Iran war, which has choked supply from the Middle East.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of choke
Verb
  • Bahdanau was working with artificial neural networks, which had already shown promise in pattern-recognition tasks such as deciphering handwriting and identifying objects in photos.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In addition to developing better medicines or perfumes, deciphering the mirror images of molecules can help scientists understand the chemical architecture of life, said chemist Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the journal Science.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of decipher
Verb
  • The score came courtesy of center back Casemiro, who tapped the ball to Suarez on the left side of the box before the Uruguayan knocked it into the top right corner.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Luckfield knocked on 12 doors in an hour and a half and had conversations with five people, four of whom opposed both bans.
    — Bram Sable-Smith, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of knock
Verb
  • An organization identifies a bully—sometimes even removes them—and leadership exhales, believing the problem is solved.
    — Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • But, as both an idealist and a pragmatist, she was drawn to the potential for science to solve difficult environmental problems.
    — Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of solve
Verb
  • The mathematics and computer science graduate, who spent two years in the Peace Corps, launched Netflix by mailing DVDs in red envelopes to customers bothered by Blockbuster Video chain’s practices and late fees.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Some people, like me, are bothered by such images but can mostly ignore them.
    — Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • The opposition has articulated clear differences from the current government on matters of domestic policy, but major fissures on the Palestinian conflict, Iran, and Israel’s wider regional military campaigns are less apparent.
    — Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In 1999, Glück imagined a creation story of sorts, describing small worlds that appeared in the fissures of a larger, shattered one.
    — Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of fissure
Noun
  • There are really no blows to be given him but defensive ones.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The tragedy deals a fresh blow to Sánchez’ left-wing government, which has already faced corruption scandals, protests over housing affordability and the Ceuta mass migrant crossing earlier this year.
    — Vasco Cotovio, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow

Phrases Containing crack

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crack
crackbrain
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Cite this Entry

“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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