1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in bang
a loud explosive sound
the tree fell with a sharp crack
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter
a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in nut
a person of odd or whimsical habits
that conspiracy theorist has been labeled a crack by the ballistics experts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 19 Feb. 2026
While private schools aren't required to comply, Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch is cracking its own code on cellphones.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
Yes, in the very center and maybe some along the edges there's a slight crack.
—Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack
Verb
Even after the arrest of his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles cracked on with his workday, proving that, in the royal stratosphere, the show must go on.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 19 Feb. 2026
While private schools aren't required to comply, Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch is cracking its own code on cellphones.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
Otherwise, select another attachment that can help get in all the couch’s cracks, crevices, and corners.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
Yes, in the very center and maybe some along the edges there's a slight crack.
—Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
-
This set from the Good Grips collection is made of borosilicate glass, which is food-safe like standard glass, but also more resistant to heat—meaning it can be taken out of the freezer and popped straight into the microwave to reheat leftovers without shattering.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Best of all, such jars are easy to rinse out periodically and can even be popped into the dishwasher.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Algae blooms choke our waterways.—
Yoca Arditi-Rocha,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Their inclusion on the recent flight comes as the United States chokes the nation’s oil supplies in a bid for negotiations that could end up in regime change, sparking questions about whether Cuba will take more deportations to ease the political and economic pressure.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Pitch tipping — the art of deciphering what might be coming based on small tells a pitcher might have — is a legal and common practice.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
How fans experience the game and how referees decipher controversial calls will only get better as visual AI advances.—
Jason Corso,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Even just 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.—
Mobile Web,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Foster may have been a late addition to the roll-call of heroes who went on to deliver the first of three consecutive promotions under Hollywood ownership, having only come out of retirement in March 2023 to solve a goalkeeping crisis.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Genealogy investigations have had major success stories Successfully using the DNA of distant family members to profile and narrow down suspects had an extraordinarily high-profile debut in 2018, when it was used to solve the cold case of the Golden State Killer.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The man himself might have argued forcefully that the one didn’t prove the other, that many Muslims in his hometown never bothered to circumcise their children.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
-
But only part of that really bothered the Florida Department of Health about Sidney Moritz, once known as Sandy Montano.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With the Fed already split along ideological lines, the fissure could grow deeper if former Governor Kevin Warsh is confirmed as the next central bank chair.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Rupert Wyatt, the filmmaker behind Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was at the helm, exiting and returning to the project amid creative fissures.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a 6-3 decision on Friday, the court dealt a major blow to the president's economic agenda.—
Julia Cherner,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The 6-3 ruling is a major blow to Trump's economic policy agenda.—
Kristin Wright,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
