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
Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
Yet, the three — even Cavallari and Conrad, who were pitted against each other in the 2000s — were warm and chummy, cracking jokes and enthusiastically agreeing with one another.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The mystery took a turn in early 2022, when Rodney Harrison, the new Suffolk County police commissioner, formed a task force devoted to cracking the case.
—Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Hansen announced the Carroll crater naming, his voice cracking with emotion.
—Ryan Brennan
april 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
Ramona High’s baseball team ran its victory string to 10 straight games to open the season by winning the first two games of the annual Lions Tournament’s 6A Division last week just days after cracking the section Top 10.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
The window to do that has been shrinking for years, but may be cracking open slightly.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Okay, well, can someone get cracking on this?
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026
When a piano tuner’s extraordinary hearing reveals a knack for cracking safes, his quiet New York routine gives way to a risky life of crime—just as the possibility of love suggests another future.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026
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
The style mishaps kept piling up as cracking wise about wardrobe and hair malfunctions became both a media and national pastime.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
Yet, the three — even Cavallari and Conrad, who were pitted against each other in the 2000s — were warm and chummy, cracking jokes and enthusiastically agreeing with one another.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The mystery took a turn in early 2022, when Rodney Harrison, the new Suffolk County police commissioner, formed a task force devoted to cracking the case.
—Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Hansen announced the Carroll crater naming, his voice cracking with emotion.
—Ryan Brennan
april 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
Ramona High’s baseball team ran its victory string to 10 straight games to open the season by winning the first two games of the annual Lions Tournament’s 6A Division last week just days after cracking the section Top 10.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
The window to do that has been shrinking for years, but may be cracking open slightly.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Okay, well, can someone get cracking on this?
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026
When a piano tuner’s extraordinary hearing reveals a knack for cracking safes, his quiet New York routine gives way to a risky life of crime—just as the possibility of love suggests another future.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracking
Adjective
-
Alliums are excellent neighbors to beets, brassicas, tomatoes, and more.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This bracelet makes an excellent Mother’s Day jewelry gift.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Even if well-intentioned, this kind of unsolicited feedback can be extremely frustrating and even hurtful.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
After the family moved to America, Crockett was diagnosed with the extremely rare syndactyly-telecanthus-anogenital and renal malformations syndrome, or STAR syndrome, which impacts different parts of the body.—
Megan Vaz,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
OpenClaw conferences are popping up around the world.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The offices and high-rises that are popping up and bringing in a younger clientele weren’t yet there to block out the sun.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Skaggs, 27, snorted the pill and died in a Texas hotel room on July 1, 2019, choking on his own vomit.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The thick and choking ash cloud covered the northern part of Colorado Springs after a wind shift.—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The clicks are part of a growing sperm whale phonetic alphabet that researchers at CETI are deciphering.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bridgewater Police Officer Marc-Stephen Hutchins then arrived and started knocking on the door as well.—
Penny Kmitt,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Stockyards is knocking it out of the park, the Near Southside is growing with hospital and hotel development, and new construction is under way in the West 7th District, Taft said.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The company is ushering a new approach to solving the industry’s biggest hurdles with Denim Codes, a collection intended to bring together material innovation, garment expertise, and advanced finishing into a clear and common language.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Santa Ana Police Department detectives are seeking help from the public in solving a homicide that left a 37-year-old man dead outside his home in early 2025.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Both players scored in double figures on Sunday, but Santos was ruled out against the Kings because of a pelvis injury that has been bothering him for weeks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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