Definition of crackednext
informal + disparaging

cracked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of crack
1
as in popped
to break suddenly with an explosive sound the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in choked
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 deciphered
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
5
6

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 cracked
Adjective
As Jacobs described Lacan’s theory that babies initially form a cohesive I upon seeing their reflection, images of babies looking into cracked mirrors appeared on the screen. Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 19 May 2026 Shake good and hard for eight to 10 seconds, strain into a rocks or tall glass onto cracked or crushed ice, and garnish with a lime wheel, wedge, or peel. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
Verb
Precious metals like gold and silver have recently cracked below their long-term moving averages. Michael Khouw, CNBC, 1 July 2026 None of the potential candidates cracked majority favorability. Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cracked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracked
Adjective
  • Over the last few years, there are these sounds that have appeared in certain towns that have driven people mad, that’s actually happening.
    Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 9 July 2026
  • The scene played out across the soccer-mad nation as Egypt faced the defending World Cup champion in the round-of-16 fixture in Atlanta.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • Eli White popped a ball up to shallow center field for what should have been the third out.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • This time, Arsenal popped City 5-1 and Gabriel very much enjoyed laughing and celebrating in Haaland’s face.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • Downwind of the disaster, Toronto, the largest city in the country, has been choked by wildfire smoke, turning the sky orange and plunging air quality levels to the worst in the world.
    Frank Landymore, Futurism, 15 July 2026
  • That student entered the circle, looped his arm around the boy’s neck and choked him.
    Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • Its successor script, Linea B, was also a mystery until it was deciphered in 1952 by an amateur linguist and cryptographer Michael Ventris with the help of classicist John Chadwick, both building on patterns in the script first identified by classicist Alice Kober.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 June 2026
  • The signature was deciphered with the help of AI, and specialists at auction house Lyon & Turnbull were able to confirm that Cadell was the artist.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • While setting up an attack near the France box, midfielder Dani Olmo overcame a hard challenge that knocked him down to play a through ball to Pedro Porro.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • But England knocked Norway out of the tournament after a dramatic 2-1 victory.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Small mismatches can break policies, and closing that gap in wide-ranging scenarios is still not completely solved.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026
  • Most importantly, the renovation solved the hotel’s practical shortcomings without stripping away the qualities that made longtime guests love it in the first place.
    Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • The location of the digging also could have disturbed another grave that may now be unmarked.
    Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
  • Home to North America’s tallest mountain, Denali's six million acres of wilderness are disturbed by only one road.
    Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • The Drug Enforcement Administration says kratom produces stimulant effects in low doses and sedative effects in high doses, and can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence.
    Jake Rosenwasser, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • Those diagnoses included schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, major depressive disorder, and bipolar or related disorders.
    Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026

Cite this Entry

“Cracked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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