crack 1 of 3

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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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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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
In all that time, the project has cracked the top 10 only once, and just barely. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025 So grab your biggest mixing bowl, crack open a can of your favorite beans, and join the movement—one legume at a time. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2025
Noun
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Lt. Daniel Vizcarra told the Times that people present during the incident heard a loud crack and the oak branch — estimated to weigh several hundred pounds and measured at 25 to 30 feet long — fell to the ground. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 11 July 2025 Diaz was arrested on Feb. 16, 2024, after authorities carried out a search warrant at his then-apartment on Orange Street in New Haven and found 75 grams of fentanyl, 278 grams of cocaine and 47 grams of crack cocaine, officials said. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
  • Though their first meet-up was riddled with a series of mishaps, Rainier popped the question to her seven months later during Christmas.
    Michelle Lee, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • Kids can pop one in the microwave for about 7-10 minutes, depending on size, and then again, add their favorite topping or a completely customizable meal.
    Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • The boy stuck his head through the dividers and appeared to be choking, according to the witness, who said Smith laughed and pushed the boy’s head back through the divider.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
  • In addition to the chickens, Frank flushed his shoes down one of the toilets, Dennis and Dee kept blowing fuses with the scheme's need for a power-sucking vacuum sealer, and the basement was choked with carbon monoxide.
    Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Imagine walking into your doctor’s office feeling sick – and rather than flipping through pages of your medical history or running tests that take days, your doctor instantly pulls together data from your health records, genetic profile and wearable devices to help decipher what’s wrong.
    Turgay Ayer, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
  • Throughout the 20th century, as ruins plunder shifted to protecting the cliff dwellings, archaeologists tried to decipher the remnants and make amends with the descendants, while understanding the ancient situation that prompted this mass migration.
    Mike Bezemek, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Instead, Sue goes all Mama Bear and uses her powers to knock him into the teleporter and then Silver Surfer has a change of heart and knocks him back in when Galactus tries to get out.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
  • In between, there was Chad Pennington (wrist), Mark Sanchez (shoulder), Geno Smith (jaw) and Zach Wilson (knee) suffering injuries in the preseason that knocked them out for regular-season games.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • Tune in for short episodes every Wednesday and Saturday as Grumpy answers reader questions, solves seasonal conundrums, and provides need-to-know advice for gardeners with his very Grumpy sense of humor.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 19 July 2025
  • Luckily, Wayfair solved this predicament with its new apartment storefront, packed with storage solutions for living in a small space.
    Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 19 July 2025
Verb
  • But one aspect of his robberies bothers him to this day.
    Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 26 July 2025
  • This means that some people might not bother using them.
    Ben Coxworth July 26, New Atlas, 26 July 2025
Noun
  • And Japan’s invocation of World War II is controversial in a region where fissures over Tokyo’s devastating militarism during the period sour relations with many of its neighbors to this day.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 July 2025
  • While the Gen-Z and progressive flanks of the party came together in support of Mamdani last month, fissures within the cohort have emerged in Arizona.
    Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Smith shoved the gun in the guy’s gut, took the blow, then left.
    John J. Lennon, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2025
  • The title bout bore out as a chess match, as the ISL school traded blows with one of the top MIAA teams from the South Shore.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 19 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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