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
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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
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
When revenue rises while communication, culture and customer experience start cracking, growth has become extraction.
—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The competition has a grand prize of $10 million for cracking this problem in its entirety.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
But what is—in your mind—what is the beginnings of cracking that shell?
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
Pointer has voiced his concerns in the past as the park has had multiple delays, including cracking in the concrete cap that necessitated replacement.
—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 June 2026
Grout's biggest challenge is cracking from improper installation or too much moisture.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
Out comes a guttural groan, her exertion a tight whip cracking open a black hole of pain.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
Key takeaways Hurricane windows are designed to withstand high winds and flying debris by cracking, not shattering.
—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
23 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
Roberts beelined to him, cracking inside jokes to gently prod him out of his shell.
—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
When revenue rises while communication, culture and customer experience start cracking, growth has become extraction.
—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The competition has a grand prize of $10 million for cracking this problem in its entirety.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
But what is—in your mind—what is the beginnings of cracking that shell?
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
Pointer has voiced his concerns in the past as the park has had multiple delays, including cracking in the concrete cap that necessitated replacement.
—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 June 2026
Grout's biggest challenge is cracking from improper installation or too much moisture.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
Out comes a guttural groan, her exertion a tight whip cracking open a black hole of pain.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
Key takeaways Hurricane windows are designed to withstand high winds and flying debris by cracking, not shattering.
—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
23 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
-
Some data storage companies have seen even more eye-popping gains.
-
Despite the rising beef prices, steakhouses are popping up like crazy across Fort Worth and Arlington.
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
-
Already, papyrologists are deciphering new texts that indicate other possible authors in the Herculaneum collection, including one of the leaders of the Stoic philosophy school.
-
An education tent will provide free education and resources regarding topics from deciphering Title IX to end-of-life care and self-advocacy.
Verb
-
Newsom’s office said that along with the FBI, agents from the IRS have been knocking on doors and asking questions.
-
After knocking the trash can down, the bear easily shoved its arms inside.
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 30 Jun. 2026.
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