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
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Recent Examples of cracked up
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
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, 27 Feb. 2026
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
-
The audience whooped and applauded.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In the front row, Paul McCartney — former Beatle, eternal rock star, proud father — applauded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Semafor today announced the first season of Compound Interest from Semafor Business, a new audio and video show hosted by Semafor Business editor Liz Hoffman.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The United States destroyed a key Iranian naval base in the Straight of Hormuz, sinking many vessels present, as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the shipping lane was officially closed.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Shaqir O’Neal hugged his formidably famous father to cap a satisfying Senior Night experience, the slender 6-foot-8 Sacramento State forward leaned in to listen, and then laughed.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The joke prompted backlash, primarily from American and Canadian liberals, against the men's team after the players laughed in response.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the fast response by police and rescuers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Abel praised several of Berkshire’s companies like Geico and Precision Castparts, but said that BNSF needs to improve significantly because its profits lag behind other railroads and its utilities need to deal with the risks associated with wildfire liabilities.—
Josh Funk,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the days after the shooting, UT has increased security and police patrols around campus and advertised mental health resources for students, who can access them for free.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
At the time, the price was not publicly advertised.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Students giggled and gasped in disbelief.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Why Don’t We alum Daniel Seavey and a group of friends giggled by a bar.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some of the members were foreigners from Egypt and Iraq, but others hailed from the countryside outside the city.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The recent death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel has been hailed as a major blow to organized crime in Mexico and the United States.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 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,
4 Mar. 2026
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Their chemistry blew up on the superb 2024 album The Collective, her most startling — and fun — project in years.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cracked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked%20up. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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