1
as in applauded
to declare enthusiastic approval of
that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in announced
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 laughed
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
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 up
Even professional designers have had to learn the hard way that some types of furniture pieces aren't all they're cracked up to be.
—
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
Leslie Jones once cracked up everyone at Saturday Night Live, including the top dog of the show.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.
—Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Growing up in showbiz isn't all it's cracked up to be, at least according to Shaun Cassidy.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Original castmembers Richard Kline and Priscilla Barnes also cracked up the crowd, reprising their roles as nurse Teri and lovable lech Larry.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
Leslie Jones once cracked up everyone at Saturday Night Live, including the top dog of the show.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.
—Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Growing up in showbiz isn't all it's cracked up to be, at least according to Shaun Cassidy.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Original castmembers Richard Kline and Priscilla Barnes also cracked up the crowd, reprising their roles as nurse Teri and lovable lech Larry.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracked up
Verb
-
Roberts applauded the growing social justice movement coming out of the files release and called for a criminal investigation of Mountbatten-Windsor.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Video shows most lawmakers in the room applauded the line.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lastly, the city officials announced an order that directs the city's health department and the Department of City Development to work together to determine the best course of action to attract and retain grocery stores.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Big claims, limited proof, and growing concerns The startup has not yet announced commercial availability or pricing.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Agnes shielded her eyes and laughed at the obscene majesty of it all.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The Offensive Rookie of the Year wide receiver laughed, but the competitive fire had been lit.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya has also long praised the game as a powerful teacher of judgement.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The more frugal sides are decried as misers or praised for their market savvy, no matter the surrounding factors.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Thursday’s town hall was advertised as an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns on the project.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, Mihich turned to a suicide approach that is advertised as a dignified way to alleviate pain.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Why Don’t We alum Daniel Seavey and a group of friends giggled by a bar.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Throughout the nearly six-minute-long video, the brother-sister duo giggled at their family memories, which included moments from school, at home, on vacation with their parents and more.—
Francesca Gariano,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Albanese hailed the signing as a significant extension of existing security and defense cooperation.—
NINIEK KARMINI,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
So began a comeback journey hailed as triumphant and inspirational.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These are the exact type of tried-and-true New Yorkers and New York hip-hop heads the Bodega Boys blew up by parodying with their frequently unhinged back-and-forth.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Volatility is expected in crypto, but these wild swings have not been seen since late 2022, when the FTX empire of notorious crypto conman Sam Bankman-Fried blew up.—
Carlos Garcia,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cracked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked%20up. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
