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
Over time, the stress of takeoffs and landings can lead to cracking near door corners. — Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 However, their tenuous bond begins to crack when Connor arrives unexpectedly touting his own ideas about Sterling Point, and the trio realizes there are even more secrets about their lives to uncover. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
Mentos candies, despite their smooth appearance, have numerous small cracks, crevices, pores, and scratches, which act as nucleation sites. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026 Now, Google is at the forefront of AI development (for better or worse), but new cracks are beginning to show. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 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
  • Expect business folk, Scandinavian families, well-to-do Danish neighbors popping in for breakfast or dinner, as well as leisure travelers from the US and beyond, who know about this nook of the city.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Aegon cackles with glee as Tyland ducks to the ground and his enemies snap, crackle, pop in the night.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of pop
Verb
  • Today, however, several armed groups allied with Tehran are back to pressuring Iran’s foes by opening new fronts that complicate the war and threaten to choke the global economy.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The important thing to know is that these techniques should only be used if your pet is truly choking – not simply coughing or gagging – and your pet should still be seen by a veterinarian afterward, even if the object is removed.
    — Cathy M. Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of choke
Verb
  • Western San Gabriel Mountains/Highway 14 Corridor When an air quality alert pops up on the radar, deciphering its implications is crucial.
    — Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 30 July 2026
  • The discovery began in 2024, when a representative of the monastery's preservation association asked Tornau to decipher the manuscript.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of decipher
Verb
  • Once two cottages, now knocked into one, it has been charmingly dressed up by interior designer Laura Stephens.
    — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The officer was knocked unconscious and rushed to a local hospital with serious injuries.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of knock
Verb
  • Someone can produce a great deal of visible output while solving the wrong problem.
    — Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Acting on a risk assessment before that risk has materialized requires political willpower; just having better data, or even better analyses, doesn’t wholly solve that problem.
    — Karryl Kim Sagun Trajano, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of solve
Verb
  • My summer dresses will sadly be retired in the coming weeks, but a denim midi skirt is the ideal swap on days when I can’t be bothered to wear jeans.
    — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 4 Aug. 2026
  • While acknowledging a desire for the honor, Overeem states he's not overly bothered, having faced similar situations throughout his long career.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • The pitched and often emotional vote over Proposition 40 exposed deep fissures in the state party over how to respond to growing grassroots anger over wealth inequality.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Another fissure appeared, slicing a haphazard path through its pale-blue heart.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026
Definition of fissure
Noun
  • Rodri's move to Barcelona is a significant blow for Madrid, who have struggled for midfield control since Kroos and Modric departed, and have been trophyless while Barcelona dominated domestically.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • There certainly would be room for compromise that could soften the blow for the state.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of blow

Phrases Containing crack

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crabwise
crack
crackbrain
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Cite this Entry

“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crack

Nglish: Translation of crack for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crack

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