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
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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
Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 16 May 2026
And quite frankly Johansson has never been better as a Queens mom and wife privately cracking but keeping it hidden from her family.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 16 May 2026
The image of cracking open a cold beer on the sauna bench is iconic, but is there a right beer for the sauna?
—Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The report stated that the DICP team has been chasing this concept since 2018, finally cracking the code in 2023 with a material that allowed the ions to move steadily.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
The show featured brothers Tom and Ray Magliozzi answering listener questions about cars and car repair between cracking jokes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
January was a chance for both to have another go at cracking the Corvino code.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
The righty then made a quiet case for cracking the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen this spring.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
Tesla is recalling 173 Cybertrucks because cracking in the rotor could cause the wheel stud to separate from the wheel hub, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.
—ABC News, 8 May 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
Long, patient takes devoid of nondiegetic elements immerse us in Misael’s rudimentary existence, with birdsong and cracking branches working together with DP Cobi Migliori’s handsome long-shot compositions to create a trancelike atmosphere.
—Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 16 May 2026
And quite frankly Johansson has never been better as a Queens mom and wife privately cracking but keeping it hidden from her family.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 16 May 2026
The image of cracking open a cold beer on the sauna bench is iconic, but is there a right beer for the sauna?
—Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The report stated that the DICP team has been chasing this concept since 2018, finally cracking the code in 2023 with a material that allowed the ions to move steadily.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
The show featured brothers Tom and Ray Magliozzi answering listener questions about cars and car repair between cracking jokes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
January was a chance for both to have another go at cracking the Corvino code.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
The righty then made a quiet case for cracking the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen this spring.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
Tesla is recalling 173 Cybertrucks because cracking in the rotor could cause the wheel stud to separate from the wheel hub, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracking
Adjective
-
Christopher Sanchez has once again been excellent, and Jacob Misiorowski has often looked unhittable with over 14 strikeouts per nine innings.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
The excellent, nonprofit gallery and incubator known as PlatteForum has moved around a bit over the years, and will reopen in the Art District on Santa Fe starting June 5.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
But even Black athletes whose athleticism gifted them an extremely exclusive express lane in life can tell you stories about growing up a minority in America, or tales their parents or grandparents have told.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
The theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED) suggests that when light at extremely high intensities interacts with the vacuum, it can be converted into matter.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Nearly a century ago, with many Americans in the throes of the Great Depression, catfish cabins began popping up along creeks, rivers, and bayous across the center of the rural South, particularly in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
The dual eye-popping performance was a culmination of a lifetime in the event for Witt, a season of breakthroughs for Bell, and consistent camaraderie and competition between the two long jumpers.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The audio recording captured the sounds of the ensuing attack, including banging, screaming, crying and choking.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
The mom of four explained that her children were eating dinner when the pre-teen started choking on a piece of food.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Currently, judges in California courts are responsible for deciphering the nuances of California’s Invasion of Privacy law.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
-
The study creates new criteria for deciphering old dice and allows archaeologists to further explore how games have evolved over time, researchers say.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Video posted online by Kol Haolam News shows the Honda backing up and then driving into the pair of double doors, knocking one door off its hinges.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
The puck had just slipped through Poehling’s skates when McNabb crunched Poehling into the boards, knocking him out for the rest of the game and prompting an official review.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Chinese researchers have developed a lithium-sulfur battery design that could significantly extend drone flight times by solving one of the technology’s biggest long-standing problems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
-
But there is no universally applicable method for solving these differential equations.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Tell him that his approach to the trip is bothering you.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
Try taking 10 to 15 minutes each day to write out what's bothering you.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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