Synonyms of crack

crack 1 of 3

verb

ˈkrak 

1

as in to pop

to break suddenly with an explosive sound

the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pop
• snap
• explode
• crackle
• shatter
• split
• burst
• rend
• hiss
• click
• sputter
• rive
• clatter
• sizzle
• clack

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

• choke
• fall apart
• lose it
• melt down
• break down
• flip (out)
• go to pieces
• break up
• wig (out)
• go off the deep end
• freak (out)
• blow one's cool

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

• decipher
• break
• decrypt
• decode
• solve
• translate
• render
• unscramble
• unravel
• work
• figure out
• work out
• descramble
• puzzle (out)
• dope (out)
• unriddle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• code
• cipher
• encode
• encrypt
• mix (up)
• encipher
• garble
• jumble (up)

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

• knock
• hit
• smack
• slap
• bang
• punch
• slam
• clap
• whack
• strike
• clip
• pound
• swipe
• bat
• kick
• box
• nail
• thump
• hammer
• lick
• bash
• rap
• poke
• tap
• clock
• push
• bust
• shove
• slug
• zap
• swat
• clout
• bludgeon
• chop
• tag
• paste
• bop
• belt
• thwack
• stab
• sock
• smite
• bonk
• bump
• bob
• flick
• clobber
• jab
• wallop
• slog
• stroke
• whale
• rough
• beat
• biff
• hang one on
• pummel
• maul
• whip
• pepper
• scuff
• butt
• batter
• bung
• slash
• cuff
• knee
• pelt
• mangle
• stamp
• drub
• lash
• deck
• fell
• dump
• jostle
• cream
• floor
• buffet
• lambaste
• brain
• lace
• pommel
• skull
• bunt
• club
• knock down
• prod
• cane
• bean
• level
• sap
• switch
• conk
• spear
• bowl (down or over)
• cudgel
• sledgehammer
• flail
• sledge
• flog
• sucker punch
• thrash
• rabbit-punch

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

• solve
• unravel
• answer
• resolve
• work
• figure out
• break
• work out
• decipher
• conclude
• decide
• unriddle
• dope (out)
• puzzle (out)
• deduce
• gather
• riddle (out)
• infer
• guess
• judge
• reason
• straighten (out)
• assume
• speculate
• presume
• divine
• iron out
• unscramble
• clear (up)
• conjecture
• untie
• decode
• untangle

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

• bother
• frenzy
• disturb
• unbalance
• unhinge
• craze
• distract
• annoy
• upset
• confuse
• unsettle
• madden
• derange
• unstring
• loco
• irritate
• perturb
• agitate
• disquiet
• vex
• discompose

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settle
• relax
• calm
• soothe
• quiet
• tranquilize

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

• fissure
• crevice
• rift
• split
• cleft
• fracture
• gap
• check
• chink
• cranny
• rupture
• opening
• crevasse
• craze
• slit
• breach
• hairline
• cut
• incision
• gash

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

• blow
• knock
• thump
• slap
• hit
• thud
• punch
• whack
• swipe
• pound
• stroke
• poke
• smack
• lick
• bang
• beat
• spank
• slam
• clip
• clap
• hook
• hack
• kick
• chop
• smash
• switch
• lash
• rap
• bust
• bat
• belt
• swat
• box
• sock
• cuff
• pelt
• stripe
• slug
• pick
• bash
• pounding
• bop
• wham
• plump
• knee
• thwack
• dab
• clout
• biff
• buffet
• welt
• fillip
• stinger
• licking
• wallop
• beating
• whop
• swing
• douse
• hand
• whip
• larrup
• counter
• left
• haymaker
• right
• hammering
• shiver
• body blow
• sucker punch
• whipping
• counterstroke
• counterblow
• one-two
• roundhouse
• battering
• thrashing
• uppercut
• pummeling
• knockdown
• rabbit punch
• counterpunch
• knockout
• cruncher
• pasting
• flogging
• sidewinder
• KO
• drubbing
• bludgeoning
• cudgeling
• right-hander
• clobbering
• walloping
• bastinado
• kayo
• lambasting

3

as in bang

a loud explosive sound

the tree fell with a sharp crack

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bang
• clap
• boom
• pop
• blast
• crash
• slam
• whack
• thunderclap
• knock
• smash
• roar
• report
• snap
• thwack
• tap
• whump
• whomp
• thunk
• howl
• clash
• clank
• rap
• clang
• wham
• clangor
• clamor
• hue and cry
• outcry
• blare
• hubbub
• tumult
• hullabaloo
• uproar

4

as in attempt

an effort to do or accomplish something

this is my first crack at painting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attempt
• try
• stab
• go
• shot
• pass
• bid
• endeavor
• offer
• trial
• whack
• essay
• bash
• fling
• assay
• struggle
• whirl
• undertaking
• striving
• throes
• trial and error

5

as in joke

something said or done to cause laughter

a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• joke
• laugh
• joking
• giggle
• gag
• rib
• wisecrack
• witticism
• scream
• one-liner
• jape
• sally
• funny
• quip
• boff
• drollery
• josh
• pleasantry
• waggery
• prank
• yuk
• jest
• riot
• nifty
• parody
• practical joke
• funning
• trick
• caper
• wisecracking
• panic
• kidding
• riff
• humorousness
• boffola
• comedy
• mock
• buffoonery
• banter
• humor
• leg-pull
• lampoon
• mockery
• antic
• knee-slapper
• burlesque
• raillery
• repartee
• caricature
• put-on
• persiflage
• thigh-slapper
• wordplay
• funniness
• wit
• drollness
• facetiousness
• hilariousness
• monkeyshine(s)

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

• nut
• character
• eccentric
• flake
• crank
• piece of work
• original
• screwball
• crackpot
• fruitcake
• head case
• quiz
• weirdo
• rarity
• freak
• maverick
• loon
• loony
• kook
• codger
• oddball
• wacko
• odd duck
• nutter
• crackbrain
• nutcase
• oddity
• zany
• bohemian
• geezer
• coot
• nonconformist
• curio
• quixote
• fantast
• fantastico

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sheep
• follower
• conformer
• conformist

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skilled
• adept
• skillful
• expert
• experienced
• proficient
• good
• great
• complete
• practiced
• ace
• master
• talented
• accomplished
• virtuoso
• educated
• crackerjack
• veteran
• gifted
• masterful
• consummate
• capable
• professed
• masterly
• versed
• compleat
• employable
• able
• competent
• trained
• clever
• slick
• polished
• effective
• old
• handy
• qualified
• efficient
• fit
• adroit
• deft
• fitted
• taught
• dexterous
• effectual
• refined
• schooled
• knowledgeable
• long-term
• workmanlike
• well-rounded
• sure-handed
• all-around
• tutored
• habile
• multitalented
• multiskilled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weak
• unable
• inexperienced
• incapable
• amateur
• unskilled
• incompetent
• unfit
• inexpert
• amateurish
• unqualified
• unseasoned
• crude
• inept
• unprofessional
• unfitted
• ineffective
• unskillful
• new
• rude
• artless
• beginning
• inefficient
• ineffectual
• would-be
• jackleg
• green
• ignorant
• raw
• rough
• untrained
• inexperienced
• untalented
• untested
• untutored
• untaught
• primitive
• unschooled
• untried
• unseasoned
• unpolished
• awkward
• clumsy
• talentless
• ungifted
• heavy-handed
• ham-fisted
• ham-handed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of crack

Verb

Within an hour, his father’s home floated up like a bobber on a fishing line and then sailed down the middle of the road before veering into a telephone pole and cracking in half. — Ren Larson, ProPublica, 2 Sep. 2026

If demand tripled tomorrow, would your foundation hold or crack? — Tony Pec, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Noun

Debbie Willson is acutely aware of how a death can fall through the cracks. — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026

The existing cottage previously suffered from significant structural problems, including cracks in its exterior walls. — Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing crack

• crack (on)
• crack down (on)
• crack up
• crack wise