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
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
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Green is known for speaking his mind, talking candidly, and cracking jokes at the expense of others.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Microwave-safe glass is typically tempered or made with heat-resistant borosilicate glass (like Pyrex)—designed to handle rapid temperature changes without cracking.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
This robot could be the key to cracking the case, like those parrots who witness crimes.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
On Sunday, several people disguised as construction workers broke into the world-famous museum in Paris, cracking open display cases and stealing jewelry that once belonged Emperor Napoleon I and his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise, according to officials.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2025
The case went cold for over two decades before Detective Tara Augustin and Detective Alyson Dupouy took a stab at cracking it.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Using porous graphite felt and enhanced heat transfer, gas released from the resin escapes while a vacuum system removes it, allowing crowns to survive the process without cracking.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
One by one, with sweaty palms and cracking adolescent voices, the pupils rose and read.
—Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
Meanwhile, Brody kept things light by cracking threesome jokes.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Green is known for speaking his mind, talking candidly, and cracking jokes at the expense of others.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Microwave-safe glass is typically tempered or made with heat-resistant borosilicate glass (like Pyrex)—designed to handle rapid temperature changes without cracking.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
This robot could be the key to cracking the case, like those parrots who witness crimes.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
On Sunday, several people disguised as construction workers broke into the world-famous museum in Paris, cracking open display cases and stealing jewelry that once belonged Emperor Napoleon I and his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise, according to officials.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2025
The case went cold for over two decades before Detective Tara Augustin and Detective Alyson Dupouy took a stab at cracking it.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Using porous graphite felt and enhanced heat transfer, gas released from the resin escapes while a vacuum system removes it, allowing crowns to survive the process without cracking.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
One by one, with sweaty palms and cracking adolescent voices, the pupils rose and read.
—Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracking
Adjective
-
This is where the Greenpoint comes from, an excellent neo-classic riff on a Manhattan that was invented at Milk & Honey in New York, and comprises the classic build of Manhattan—rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters—into which has been spliced the inimitable French herbal liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The Jayhawks did an excellent job of getting back in transition, limiting Louisville’s fast-break opportunities.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Nineteenth-century reporters could be extremely casual with facts and guessed at the spelling of names.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As the fintech sector comes roaring back, companies like Ramp and Stripe have dominated headlines with eye-popping funding rounds and rapid growth.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Make the pumpkin filling (similar to pumpkin pie filling) in a separate bowl and then combine it with yellow cake mix and melted butter before popping this cake into the oven.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The suspect, Mario Camacho, 27, was reportedly armed with a knife and choking his younger brother.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
For younger children, this is a matter of safety, since toys intended for older kids can contain small parts that pose choking hazards or materials that aren’t safe to chew.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Dreams are a concept that humans have been fascinated with deciphering for thousands of years.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Though historians have called for further research before making claims, the proposal of a script rooted in sign language might open the chance to explore a new way of deciphering Mayan art and show the ancient civilization to be even more sophisticated and efficient than scholars even knew.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There were plenty of upsets, from Houston falling to West Virginia to SMU potentially knocking Miami out of the playoffs one week after the Mustangs lost to Wake Forest.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Door knocking is an important part of campaigning, according to Jeff Lyons, an associate professor at Boise State University.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Like Grace, who once struggled to find the right fit, her customers are solving the same problem—and the demand is reflected in the sales.—
Andre Claudio,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Solution for extreme environments Fluid Wire Robotics’ technology provides a major asset for NAAREA by solving the challenge of operating sensitive equipment in hostile zones.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
If something’s bothering you, say so.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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