1
as in breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
a crack-up required him to take a year off from work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collision
the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact
two people were injured in a serious crack-up on the interstate
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to praise
to declare enthusiastic approval of
that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to blow up
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
the movie is being cracked up as the blockbuster of the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
try not to crack up at your own punch lines—it's funnier if you keep a straight face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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-up
Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Because even the most powerful companies are just participants in a broader world, and if the rage of those who are sacrificed to feed the bottom line wrecks that broader world, well, then a crack-up is coming.
—airmail.news, 25 Jan. 2025
Sam Woodward, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Padilla and Gosling were a teacher and principal in another sketch reading passed notes out loud that, according to text on screen, were swapped out since rehearsal, causing both to crack up uncontrollably.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack-up
Noun
Despite the book’s title, Buchanan had some hope for the West (in his us-and-them sense of the term) and was confident in globalism’s impending crack-up.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Because even the most powerful companies are just participants in a broader world, and if the rage of those who are sacrificed to feed the bottom line wrecks that broader world, well, then a crack-up is coming.
—airmail.news, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
Is tofu all it's cracked up to be?
—Sam Woodward, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Padilla and Gosling were a teacher and principal in another sketch reading passed notes out loud that, according to text on screen, were swapped out since rehearsal, causing both to crack up uncontrollably.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack-up
Noun
-
The years surrounding menopause are particularly critical because the drop in estrogen accelerates bone breakdown.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
-
Here’s a full breakdown of what zone 2 cardio is, who’s behind it, what a major 2025 research review found, and how to use it in a way that actually makes sense for your life.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
This is no coincidence; galactic mergers are more likely at the cluster’s gravitational center, and astronomers think the chaos of such collisions helps give ellipticals their characteristic spheroidal shape.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
-
The Idaho Transportation Department plans to restripe a section of Interstate 84 between Meridian and Nampa, in the days after work-zone lane markings caused confusion among drivers and at least one near collision.—
Rose Evans
May 29,
Idaho Statesman,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Anything Oprah repeatedly praises immediately piques my interest, but even more so when her favorites are podiatrist favorites.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
30 May 2026
-
In a post on X on May 29, Shriver marked what would have been Kennedy's 109th birthday by praising the court's ruling against efforts to rename the cultural institution.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
-
In what could end up being the most disastrous setback in the history of Blue Origin, its massive launch vehicle blew up May 28 in a fiery blast that briefly colored the Florida sky orange and sent blazing fireballs cascading into the night.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
So much of a family's focus narrows onto the child, but watching a brother, sister, or parent get to laugh again carries its own weight.—
Jon Youshaei,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
My musical theater peers would have been very hard on me [laughs].—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Grossman did not try to leave the scene after the crash, Holm said.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
That crash occurred three months after Lu was ticketed in Maryland for negligent driving and changing lanes unsafely, according to court records.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Jennifer Levi of the LGBTQ+ rights group GLAD Law, who represents the plaintiffs, applauded the decision.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
In a joint statement, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert applauded the organization.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The documents include a guide on how to create stencils for graffiti and another on how and where to place large posters advertising the group, including instructions on how to mix flour and water to create wheat paste to stick the posters up.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
This may come as a surprise in a time when telehealth companies are advertising on the subway platform and downloading an app might be the first step patients take to get a drug prescription.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crack-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack-up. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
