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
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
-
Jordi Evolé, the Spanish journalist, made an experiment in 2008, of attending a left-wing meeting and reading out a speech and everybody applauded.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2026
-
In a statement, Compass applauded the changes to Zillow’s rules.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The following closing dates have also been announced, according to Colorado Ski Country USA's website.—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
French automobile manufacturer Renault Group has announced plans to deploy 350 humanoid robots across its manufacturing facilities within the next 18 months in collaboration with robotics company Wandercraft.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The pair, seemingly taken aback, laughed before ending the call.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The audience inside the Dolby Theatre laughed at the joke, which drew attention to the disconnect between their ceremony and the ongoing war in the Middle East.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tehran praised its attack as a show of strength, even as Israel's military asserts that Iranian missile launches have decreased since the war began.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The shows were widely praised for their cinematic scale, live instrumentation, and the palpable sense of reverence from fans who had grown alongside the music.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a statement Thursday, police said Buhler advertised nanny services on multiple websites and apps and may have provided childcare to other families.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The collection reinterprets iconic Lee silhouettes like the Storm Rider jacket, a style that dates to 1948 when it was originally designed and advertised to cowboys.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After letting out a cathartic scream, Madigan giggled.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Taking a deep breath, the Quantico alum giggled and then, leaning over, plunged her face straight into the ice.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Other barbecue joints mentioned hailed from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.—
Joseph Hernandez
March 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Bob Iger has been hailed as among the greatest CEOs of his generation.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then came this golden age of basic cable TV – and that blew up.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
-
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,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cracked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked%20up. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
