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
Late Saturday, the crews entered the facility to make a visual examination of the cracked container, which officials believed was holding 7,000 liquid gallons of methyl methacrylate, a chemical that is routinely used to make plastic. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026 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
Verb
Inside, the walls are covered in brown beadboard, every bar stool is cracked, and signage is plastered all over the walls. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026 In a mortar and pestle, crush the coriander seeds and peppercorns until cracked but still coarse. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cracked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracked
Adjective
  • These three are just the latest in a mad rush for capital that has been putting a strain on the AI trade.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Both about power-mad blondes getting involved with the shadier side of the medical industrial complex, but Matt Hagen’s nanites worked, dammit!
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Many of these 13 tracks have popped up as demos in Jensen’s live shows or NTS sets, cooking down to their essence in plain sight.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Omnicom — Shares popped almost 2% after the marketing and sales company posted third-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But the real culprit is his failing Iran war, which has choked supply from the Middle East.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The men, or sometimes women, who hit them, pulled their hair or choked them, bruising their throats.
    — Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But a more apt comparison might be the Mirabilia Urbis Romae, in which Medieval scholars deciphered the staggering ruins of Classical Rome.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Re-creating the Herculaneum scrolls To date, one entire scroll and passages from others have been deciphered, largely thanks to the Vesuvius Challenge, a project launched in 2023 that encourages researchers to decode scrolls for cash prizes.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The score came courtesy of center back Casemiro, who tapped the ball to Suarez on the left side of the box before the Uruguayan knocked it into the top right corner.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Pratt played three seasons at Elon and Northeastern before a foot injury knocked him out early last year.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The crows solved the task the same way primates do, using the same mathematical logic despite having a very different brain structure.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • So there’s a huge amount of that which was solved with lots of different trickery, and then some VFX.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • An officer responded to PSA, and police said about two pallets of cards were stolen from the truck and a third was disturbed.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • As one of the most effective natural sinks for carbon, peatlands could accelerate climate change if disturbed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, his doctor interprets all the screaming about an alien presence in Thomas’ head as a garden-variety psychotic breakdown, and remands him to a more secure facility.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • It may also be used to treat certain other psychotic conditions, such as psychosis arising in Parkinson disease.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Cracked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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