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
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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
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6
as in eccentric
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
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as in to race
to proceed or move quickly
the postman cracked on in an effort to get the mail delivered on time
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of crack
Andy Theobald, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2025
Her case cracked the door open for other young talent to skip college entirely, but in reality, college soccer is still a key pipeline despite its changing landscape.
—Meg Linehan, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025
Yarborough kicked him out for letting people smoke crack in the house, and Williams threatened Yarborough with a knife, according to police and court records.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Verb
His scoring average cracked double-digits in both of those years, at 10.8 points per game.
—Andy Theobald, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2025
Her case cracked the door open for other young talent to skip college entirely, but in reality, college soccer is still a key pipeline despite its changing landscape.
—Meg Linehan, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
Furthermore, the axial compression in the columns is likely to result in shear cracks that are more closely aligned with the column axis, allowing the cracks to intercept some transverse reinforcement before propagating through the section.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025
Yarborough kicked him out for letting people smoke crack in the house, and Williams threatened Yarborough with a knife, according to police and court records.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Noun
-
But without an enduring settlement for Ukraine, this would result in a long-term fissure in the Transatlantic alliance and even NATO.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Image The fissures can be felt in public life and in synagogues.—
Anemona Hartocollis,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
With a blow of his whistle, all sorts of words applied: pandemonium, euphoria, mania.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
What’s 42 to 43? Into a black place of great blows from the little mountains from the sea came.—
John Berryman,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Here's when a diploma may not deliver much of a bang for the buck.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Kerry Washington turned the trending blunt cut into a bang, while MAC cosmetics used two-toned lip liner and bronze eyeshadow on supermodel Aweng Chuol.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Automakers could be compensated for previous tariff payments as Trump attempts to pull back on fierce tariffs.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
-
As an attempt to derive meaning from a meaningless phrase —which was, after all, the user's request—that's not half bad.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Dave Chappelle roasted Donald Trump for taking over as chairman of the Kennedy Center—weeks after a past joke about the president went newly viral on social media.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
-
Joy Behar landed in hot water when a joke about a decades-old scandal fell flat.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
Robert Redford delivers folksy wisdom as a local eccentric who once had his own dragon encounter, and even Karl Urban’s greedy logger is more of a nuisance than an outright villain.—
Josh Bell,
Vulture,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Attracting talent for greater innovation hazards acquiring a few eccentrics whose gifts come wrapped in controversial packaging.—
Chip Bell,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As usual, Ellie attempts to mask her feelings with sarcasm, but this doesn’t really work with Gail (who’s skilled at doing the same).—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2025
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He has been credited as a skilled recruiter and defensive coordinator who contributed to the school reaching the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The lightweight vacuum lasts 40 minutes and includes a crevice tool and pet multitool.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
25 Apr. 2025
-
When a person leaves the beach, the sand often sticks to their skin, gets tucked into clothing crevices, and may even be deposited in food or drink items.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Discover Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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