crack-up 1 of 2

noun

ˈkrak-ˌəp How to pronounce crack-up (audio)
Definition of crack-upnext
1
as in breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse a crack-up required him to take a year off from work

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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

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crack up

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to praise
to declare enthusiastic approval of that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be

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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

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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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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
Noun
By the end of 1857, no one knew the crack-up of the Union was coming in three years, or that the nation would be in a civil war in four, but the portents were bleak. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026 The crack-up could also be precipitated by a severe financial crisis during which certain governments, such as France, could no longer sell their bonds. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Mark Toothaker, a stallion sales manager for Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, was on the couch cracking up with his wife, Malory, about the whiffed field goal and consequential turnover. — Kelly O'Grady, CBS News, 3 May 2026 Wondering if the talk about using eggshells in your garden is all it's cracked up to be? — Lauren David, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crack-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack-up
  1. breakdown
  2. collision
  3. praise
  4. blow up
  5. laugh
  6. crash
  7. applaud
  8. advertise
Noun
  • The revelation gave the DOJ fresh evidence of a serious breakdown in the state’s voter registration system.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2026
  • Annual tune-ups, regular filter changes and addressing small issues early can extend the life of your HVAC system while reducing the likelihood of expensive breakdowns that insurance won't cover.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Definition of breakdown
Noun
  • This initiative aims to significantly reduce the state's high rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions, which ranks fifth nationally and contributes to the nation's highest auto insurance claims.
    — Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Officers with the Olathe Police Department were called to the area of West 159th Street and South Lone Elm Road upon reports of a head-on collision between a white SUV and a dump truck, according to a news release from Sgt.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of collision
Verb
  • During nine years as Manchester mayor, Burnham was praised standing up to central government on behalf of a proud, battle-scarred northern city that gave birth to the Industrial Revolution, movements for social change and a dynamic music scene.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • He’s been praised openly by his fellow receivers, cornerback Jaycee Horn and head coach Dave Canales over the past few days.
    — Mike Kaye July 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
Definition of praise
Verb
  • For kind of the heart or the center of the mill to blow up is pretty much game over.
    — Ethan Brooks, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • As their last retreating act, Hussein’s soldiers blew up some 700 Kuwaiti oil wells, painting the sky black with smoke and igniting unchecked fires that burned for 10 months.
    — WUFT News, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
Definition of blow up
Verb
  • All around them, guests smiled and laughed as children screamed with excitement and giggled each time a butterfly fluttered close.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • For a second, Fauci almost seemed to laugh, and there was a glimpse of the public-health official who had charmed much of the country during the pandemic, with his air of amiable competence.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • Investigators said Summers was using his phone extensively before the crash, driving 73-75 mph, and tested positive for cocaine and opiates.
    — Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
  • On June 15, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted crash testing, using a three-year-old dummy to test the headrest at its highest position in both forward- and rear-facing modes.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of crash
Verb
  • When Richard applauded one such culinary act of defiance, the man took the opportunity to shoot the king.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • For many the agency has lost its way (unless your public comments serve to restrict gopher tortoises, or applaud bear hunts or cheer for a high-speed roadway carved through conservation lands).
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026
Definition of applaud
Verb
  • Sara Nelson, a Democrat who had advertised her willingness to challenge the harm-reduction consensus, won a seat on the city council the same year and became its president two years later.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • The shooting occurred after a 311 complaint warned the city a week earlier that social media posts were advertising plans to serve alcohol at an unlicensed business without a liquor license.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of advertise

Browse Nearby Words

cracks wise
crack-up
crack up
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Cite this Entry

“Crack-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack-up. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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