as in excellent
of the very best kind
a writer renowned for her cracking tales of mystery and suspense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in extremely
to a great degree
tells a cracking good tale of a search for a lost city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in popping
to break suddenly with an explosive sound
the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in choking
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 deciphering
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
as in knocking
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
cracked the bow of the ship with a champagne bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in solving
to find an answer for through reasoning
I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in bothering
to cause to go insane or as if insane
cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cracking
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
Another uninspired performance coupled with a a heavy defeat may well spell the end for the Basque manager at the Emirates, so this fixture should have plenty of undertones and be a cracking game of football.
—
SI.com,
28 Oct. 2019
His fortunes finally turned back Wednesday, when van Garderen laid down a cracking time trial at the Tour of California.
—
sacbee,
16 May 2018
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Work is continuing to try to stabilize the Pacifica Municipal Pier, which began cracking at its base on June 4 and is now in danger of breaking off and falling into the water.
—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Herein, a young Chicagoan, Dom (Jordan Arredondo) brings home his adorable new girlfriend, Val (Courtney Rikki Green) to visit his wise-cracking dad, Louie (Kareem Bandealy) and his Chicago cop mom, Alicia (Cynthia Kaye McWilliams).
—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Now, technology is cracking that stubborn bone to turn the waste into an industrial resource.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
The cracking issue in the PrK module’s structure is due to corrosion, and leaks occur inside the aging transfer tunnel when pressure is cycled up or down.
—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Leather Furnishings Hydrogen peroxide breaks down the oils in leather, leaving it dry and prone to cracking.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
These parts of the outback are known for cracking clay plains, ephemeral waterways, scorching summers and dramatic cycling between drought and flood.
—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
After cracking a filling while eating, his wife began researching local dental offices, focusing on clinics with strong reviews from foreign patients and a reputation for quality care.
—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Adjective
The study published in the journal Construction and Building Materials also revealed that the triangular and wavy forms significantly enhanced the beam's ability to handle post-cracking stress.
—
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
Another uninspired performance coupled with a a heavy defeat may well spell the end for the Basque manager at the Emirates, so this fixture should have plenty of undertones and be a cracking game of football.
—
SI.com,
28 Oct. 2019
His fortunes finally turned back Wednesday, when van Garderen laid down a cracking time trial at the Tour of California.
—
sacbee,
16 May 2018
Verb
Plastic trays are the least expensive but are also prone to cracking and absorbing odors.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Work is continuing to try to stabilize the Pacifica Municipal Pier, which began cracking at its base on June 4 and is now in danger of breaking off and falling into the water.
—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Herein, a young Chicagoan, Dom (Jordan Arredondo) brings home his adorable new girlfriend, Val (Courtney Rikki Green) to visit his wise-cracking dad, Louie (Kareem Bandealy) and his Chicago cop mom, Alicia (Cynthia Kaye McWilliams).
—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Now, technology is cracking that stubborn bone to turn the waste into an industrial resource.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
The cracking issue in the PrK module’s structure is due to corrosion, and leaks occur inside the aging transfer tunnel when pressure is cycled up or down.
—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Leather Furnishings Hydrogen peroxide breaks down the oils in leather, leaving it dry and prone to cracking.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
These parts of the outback are known for cracking clay plains, ephemeral waterways, scorching summers and dramatic cycling between drought and flood.
—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
After cracking a filling while eating, his wife began researching local dental offices, focusing on clinics with strong reviews from foreign patients and a reputation for quality care.
—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracking
Adjective
-
Turkey evened it in the 10th minute with an excellent two-man game from Baris Alper Yilmaz and Güler, the 21-year-old Real Madrid rising star.
-
The nearby town of Dolores makes an excellent home base.
Adverb
-
Now, multiple residents are left worried about what's to come next week with extremely hot temperatures in the forecast.
-
Despite being the fourth largest economy in the world — the home of Hollywood and Silicon Valley — California’s budget is extremely dependent on the state’s most prosperous residents.
Verb
-
But the energy was still palpable, with locals sporting soccer jerseys and tourists popping up across the city.
-
The eye-popping numbers most associated with Misiorowski come from the radar gun.
Verb
-
According to the criminal complaint, the boy told police Diggs began choking him before dragging him into the nearby alley.
-
Officer Nicholas Samartino of the Woodbridge Police Department responded to a report that a 5-day-old infant was choking and experiencing difficulty breathing back in May, according to police.
Verb
-
An education tent will provide free education and resources regarding topics from deciphering Title IX to end-of-life care and self-advocacy.
-
Armed with an adventure kit, participants are summoned to a secret location where they’re tasked with deciphering cryptic codes, uncovering hidden symbols, navigating shifting alliances and outwit enemies and operatives stationed around the campus.
Verb
-
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
-
Newsom’s office said that along with the FBI, agents from the IRS have been knocking on doors and asking questions.
Verb
-
Lawmakers called it a major first step toward solving the housing affordability crisis.
-
His work transformed computational biology and drug discovery, earning him and Hassabis Nobel Prizes and cementing DeepMind’s reputation as a lab capable of solving grand scientific challenges.
Verb
-
That shift may help explain why some couples notice their partner’s scent bothering them more during periods of conflict.
-
The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up.
Cite this Entry
“Cracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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