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
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
This is a grand adventure and cracking good mystery awash with gaslighting, brawls, murders, red herrings and a secret society.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Elena Moore, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, that’s the cost of frugality, something that will certainly be the hallmark of Sullivan’s first crack at free agency as GM.
—Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack
Verb
There were also stories about Reinsdorf not being amused by the wise-cracking or esoteric commentary by Benetti during play-by-play, as if baseball were a deadly serious sport that should be treated with more dignity.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
This is a grand adventure and cracking good mystery awash with gaslighting, brawls, murders, red herrings and a secret society.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
But as candidates look toward this year's midterm elections, those longtime dynamics have shown some cracks.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, that’s the cost of frugality, something that will certainly be the hallmark of Sullivan’s first crack at free agency as GM.
—Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
-
The Heat were up by as many as 28 points in the fourth quarter with Adebayo continuing to play pop-a-shot in the historic farce — which also moved him past LeBron James, whose 61 points in 2014 stood as Miami’s previous franchise record.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Still there’s an argument to be made that UCLA should be in the conversation for the top overall seed, especially after an eye-popping 51-point win over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game Sunday.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Iran may soon run out of drones, yet has other asymmetrical options – such as choking the Strait of Hormuz or plotting terror on foreign soil – that can irritate the US and disrupt peace.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Chan then forced Tay to drink rubbing alcohol and sealed his moth with duct tape — forcing him to choke on his own vomit — before burying him in the makeshift grave.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No one had written them down, and the band had to listen to the few tapes that existed and try to decipher his words.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Looking through the official tiebreaker rules, the American-Statesman has attempted to decipher the reasoning behind Texas State's seeding.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With the combination of rising oil prices, and the demand knocking at Moscow's door, Vladimir Vladimirovich's war against Ukraine might could be much better funded for the rest of the year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The invention also solves another issue.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Irreverent and misguided, his genius and famous name weigh heavily on him, but using his gift to help solve homicides may — finally — offer his life some direction and purpose.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Up until the past decade or so, food critics seldom bothered to write about casual cafes such as Zip's, instead focusing on the newest shiny-object restaurants in town.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Mar. 2026
-
None of that seems to have bothered Trump.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The controversy has highlighted both religious and political fissures.—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Fuller’s sentiments about ongoing fissures in college sports reflect growing concerns across the industry that the current financial model is unsustainable.—
Eric Prisbell,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And the loss of Amarion Dickerson, who would’ve been a key rotation piece, ended up being a major blow for a team that was counting on everyone at the top of the rotation to deliver.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
His win in Istanbul in 2019 represented a crushing blow to Erdogan, whose own political ascent began as the city’s mayor.—
Beril Akman,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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