1
as in breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
a crack-up required him to take a year off from work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crack-up
Emily Tamkin, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2023
The movie tracks Carl’s descent, his crack-up, and his slow waking up to reality.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Apr. 2023
Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
The two cracked up laughing, and not about how Ohtani was swinging the bat.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack-up
Noun
Despite their differences on policy, there is little reason to expect a crack-up between the Hungarian and American right in the near future.
—Emily Tamkin, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2023
The movie tracks Carl’s descent, his crack-up, and his slow waking up to reality.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Apr. 2023
Verb
Not so lucky was Roy Wilson, a veteran of over 65 aerial sequences, who was killed during the filming of Columbia’s War Correspondent (1932) when his plane went into a tailspin at 2,000 feet and cracked up on the ground.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
The two cracked up laughing, and not about how Ohtani was swinging the bat.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack-up
Noun
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Here’s a breakdown of T-Mobile’s available plans for Los Angeles residents: 5G Home Internet: $35 per month, up to 318 Mbps download (with qualifying phone plan) 5G Home Internet: $50 per month, up to 318 Mbps download (standard price) Read our full T-Mobile home internet review.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
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Things change again around age 50, though, when the rate bone breakdown usually begins to exceed that of bone formation.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined Berrios’ cause of death to be aortic laceration due to blunt force trauma of trunk and the manner of death to be accident (passenger in motor vehicle collision).—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Alcohol and drug impairment did not appear to play a role in the collision, police said.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Another was praised for being someone who supervisors trusted.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Aug. 2025
-
But just a couple of decades ago, wine (especially red wine) was praised for its positive health benefits, even on 60-Minutes, with their famous ‘French Paradox’ show.—
Liz Thach,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Cougars, two years from the Pac-12 being blown up, have a new coach in Jimmy Rogers from South Dakota State.—
Marc Weiszer,
The Tennessean,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Outside linebacker Derick Hall and defensive tackle Leonard Williams blew up a run by Zach Charbonnet, then on the next snap, Darnold launched a 35-yard bomb to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who got a step on cornerback Josh Jobe.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
Rachael said Lylah will sit on anyone's lap and lick them until the lucky recipients start laughing.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
-
As Michael picked up Murphy into his arms, wedding guests laughed in the background.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The driver of the motor vehicle remained at the scene and was not injured, according to Bessette. Road closures were in effect in the area of the crash as the Waterbury Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit investigated the incident, Bessette said.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Chinese mines were largely saved from the worst effects of the crash but are now seen as being guilty of over-production.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For the second time in six months, captain Virgil van Dijk and his team-mates stood watching and applauding as the silverware was presented at Wembley.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Florida State Representative Daniel Perez applauds during a joint session of the Florida State Legislature at the state Capitol in Tallahassee on January 9, 2024.—
Sonam Sheth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Trump’s softened stance on marijuana comes as the industry has tapped into his orbit, including through the American Rights and Reform PAC, which is financially backed by the industry and has advertised on its behalf, while also giving $1 million to Trump’s PAC, the Wall Street Journal reported.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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The family was looking to buy a business and found Crown Hardware advertised for sale online.—
Ricardo Torres,
jsonline.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crack-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack-up. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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