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.
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Recent Examples of crack
Esther Zuckerman, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
In the comedy's newest installment, which arrives a year after the series first premiered, Charles is assigned with helping Wheeler College president Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield) crack a case and must go undercover as a college professor, per a synopsis from Netflix.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Air bubbles, cracks and bulges in a tire's sidewall could all warrant a tire change.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Verb
But the thing that really cracked it open was starting to speak to women who were active in the second wave, in particular, members of a certain consciousness raising group.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
In the comedy's newest installment, which arrives a year after the series first premiered, Charles is assigned with helping Wheeler College president Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield) crack a case and must go undercover as a college professor, per a synopsis from Netflix.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
The student opened the door a crack and Warren allegedly pushed the door open and then shoved the person against a bed before wrapping his hands around their neck.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Air bubbles, cracks and bulges in a tire's sidewall could all warrant a tire change.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
-
Peterson’s cramping issue first popped up — at least publicly — in KU’s exhibition game against Louisville back in October.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Some rumors have started popping up about Swinney and the Tigers parting ways.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The drought has also set the stage for devastating wildfires in Brazil that have destroyed huge swaths of the Amazon as well as the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetlands, and choked cities in thick smoke.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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For younger children, this is a matter of safety, as toys intended for older kids can contain small pieces that pose choking hazards or materials that aren’t safe to chew on.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Their job was to transmit secure battlefield communications that the enemy could not decipher.—
Tim Trudell,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
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While expeditions in the early 1990s deciphered crucial insights into the ship’s final moments, one expedition drew sharp criticism after a crewman’s body was found.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Police geared up and stormed the compound, using a hoe to knock the padlock off a door inside.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The right words can open doors the heart’s been knocking on for a while.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For example, in ecological matters, the only way to solve the problem is to continue advancing technologically.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
But the show’s primary perspective also seems to be that Kingstown’s problems are so impossible to solve that only someone like Mike — with no official affiliation — can mitigate against the worst possible outcome.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The clanging of dirty dishes being gathered in the back kitchen does not bother her.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
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Instagram and TikTok are littered with stories of women and their unsupportive husbands, men who can't remember their own children's birthdays or be bothered to take a weekend off from their golf hobby to spend time with their families.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Those fissures burst into the open last week, when Tucker Carlson conducted a friendly interview with the cheerfully white nationalist streamer Nick Fuentes.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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The journalist Beth Macy, who in her previous books chronicled the widening fissures in American society by examining the opioid crisis and the aftereffects of globalization, grew up there.—
Alex Kotlowitz,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Green Bay's offense was dealt a massive blow last week when star tight end Tucker Kraft went down with a torn ACL against the Panthers.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The groundbreaking research penetrated the last moments of the young nobleman, who suffered a terrible 26 blows.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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