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
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Recent Examples of crack-up
Michael Bernick, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
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
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
The camera cut to O’Leary cracking up in the audience.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack-up
Noun
For job seekers and their families and friends, navigating this white collar crack-up can no longer mean looking to the federal or state government for a new government program, department, or benefit.
—Michael Bernick, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
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
Verb
Here, Lauren Houser, vice president of marketing at cleaning solutions company Zep in Atlanta, Georgia, highlights six common hacks that really aren't all they're cracked up to be.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
The camera cut to O’Leary cracking up in the audience.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack-up
Noun
-
Here's a breakdown of the 10 best remaining fits for Denver at their late-second-round slot Friday.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Australian actress Charlotte MacInnes has provided tearful testimony on the breakdown in her relationship with Rebel Wilson during the making of The Deb.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Aerial footage of the collision showed that a white car ended up on the sidewalk next to a crosswalk after the crash.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
And in 2009, a collision between a plane and a tourist helicopter over the Hudson killed nine people.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The response was praised by Republican politicians, who widely denounced the content of the chats, which was filled with slurs for Black, Jewish and gay people and included graphic calls for violence against Black people.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Cornice headboards are trending again, praised for a classic, layered look.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 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,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Ukraine has developed expertise to destroy them through electronic jamming as well as using small, cheap interceptor drones to blow up the Shahed drones.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The crowd laughed, and the Parenthood actor noted that people intervened and broke up the fight.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Roberts laughed, but the twinkle in his eye was genuine.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
McCasland had overseen classified aerospace research at a laboratory that UFO lore identifies as the secret site of debris from the 1947 crash.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Joshua LeBlanc, 29, died in a fiery crash in his Tesla on July 22, 2025.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Parry applauded the decision by Deputy Judge Sarah Clarke to dismiss Mitch Winehouse's claim that the two were not entitled to sell the items and did so without his knowledge.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Chevron, on the other hand, applauded the Supreme Court’s decision, saying the claims are related to work that the companies did under federal supervision.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike berries or stone fruit, melon doesn’t advertise its ripeness as clearly.—
Sheela Prakash,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Miami Dolphins have advertised themselves as an equal opportunity team, a meritocracy, so to speak.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crack-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack-up. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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