crack 1 of 3

1
as in to pop
to break suddenly with an explosive sound the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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
5
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
6

crack

3 of 3

adjective

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
Uncontrollable fits of rage in the elementary school bathroom that cracked the glass. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 Each utensil is made of premium teak wood that’s designed to last for years in your kitchen without cracking or melting. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
Ironically, cracks in the economy have helped drive stocks higher, because the underperforming job market forced the wait-and-see Federal Reserve to lose patience and start its recent rate-cutting campaign. David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025 There's more recharge coming from seepage through the leaks and cracks of the CAP canal, which carries water from the Colorado River to Phoenix and Tucson after crossing the Ranegras basin, than from rainfall. Clara Migoya, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
  • Smaller efforts popped up in Greenland over the years, but nothing came to fruition.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
  • In a matter of days, tens of thousands of videos have popped up under the hashtag #group7, with many users celebrating their membership.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In the quiet of the Sabbath morning when all the neighborhood was wrapped in slumber, some dastardly degenerate crept into the room, choked her to death, assaulted her criminally and left her bruised and bleeding body lying on the bed.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
  • In Lansing, Michigan, a group of friends around a late-night campfire spotted another raccoon in distress — this one choking.
    Ronnie Li, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • No, Lindsey did not decipher a few revealing tarot cards or see the future inside a crystal ball.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The iPhone also has the ability to decipher what objects, people or pets are in photographs taken by users.
    Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Last year in a Bravo League football game against Tesoro, a 44-14 win for the Sea Kings in which Annett passed for 285 yards, he was hit by a defender while making a throw, knocking his right (throwing) shoulder out of socket.
    Richard Dunn, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
  • This isn’t to knock van der Kolk’s book—a book on mental health being so popular feels like a win—but fewer and fewer books getting larger and larger deals is a worrying trend.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, in dress form, this problem is solved!
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Fields will now have to solve his problems without his favorite receiver.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Such hard coaching would bother some players.
    Jay King, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Continue reading … HIT THE ROAD – Duffy responds to trucker who 'couldn't be bothered' to learn English in America.
    , FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This invisible, climate-polluting gas can escape into the water through fissures in the sea floor, often revealing itself with a stream of bubbles weaving their way up to the ocean surface.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Johanon's remarks centered on the fissures in society.
    Detroit Free Press staff, Freep.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The heist deals a huge blow to one of the most popular museums in the world, which houses valuable works like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and has drawn some 9 million visitors in recent years.
    NPR, NPR, 20 Oct. 2025
  • So, after scans revealed a back injury in July, to be without Cummins’ captaincy for any length of time would represent a considerable blow to his side’s Ashes hopes.
    Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on crack

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!