1
as in applauding
to declare enthusiastic approval of
that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crying up
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
the movie is being cracked up as the blockbuster of the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in laughing
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
try not to crack up at your own punch lines—it's funnier if you keep a straight face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cracking up
Viewer Reactions The TikTok video left viewers cracking up, and as of Tuesday, the clip had amassed over 526,000 views and 48,600 views.
—
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
The surprisingly funny duo kept social media fans cracking up, but after about a year, their relationship quietly ended.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 29 Sep. 2025
Apa and Cline are both cracking up now as Apa drops one more bomb.
—EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
The surprisingly funny duo kept social media fans cracking up, but after about a year, their relationship quietly ended.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 29 Sep. 2025
Apa and Cline are both cracking up now as Apa drops one more bomb.
—EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracking up
Verb
-
Amazingly, Exposure contestants go through hours of practice and performance each day without ever seeming to tire, and along with the competitive spirit, there’s a real sense of community, with skaters constantly encouraging, applauding, and appreciating each other.—
Lonnie Burstein Hewitt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
When the final number was finished, the three eldest boys came to the fore on the catwalk mini stage underneath a shower of confetti and took a bow, with Mom and Dad now in the background, applauding politely but proudly.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After the announcement, Musk celebrated the vote on a stage at the shareholder meeting, dancing and laughing alongside a pair of robots.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The longtime fitness buff showed up to their home in Colorado looking overweight, rarely smiling or laughing, and was withdrawn.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Hudson has heard from studio heads, producers and other past collaborators praising her work.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In a post on X, Huberman shared the White House’s graphic of the new pyramid, praising the decisions that were made.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That’s why the Springsteen arguments are blowing up like the Chicken Man.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Since then, her phone has been blowing up.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
DeGeneres and de Rossi can be heard giggling as their two dogs chase each other around the space.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Beyond them, there are plenty of cases of mysterious footsteps, giggling invisible children and unexplained green orbs appearing in photos.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lucid Group, Nuro, and Uber have unveiled the production-intent robotaxi that will power their upcoming global autonomous ride-hailing service.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Assisted-driving tech is also considered a precursor to fully autonomous cars, which analysts say can unlock huge new markets for ride-hailing fleets as well as personal self-driving vehicles.—
Nora Eckert,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After announcing their engagement in April 2023, Brown and Bongiovi tied the knot in May 2024.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
A day after announcing its Q3 numbers, Solera published Cunha’s undated offer letter.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Agents appear to fight off a screaming crowd trying to help the man by pushing them away and threatening them with pepper spray.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
There’s nothing like stepping onto the ice with thousands of screaming school children on top of you after an early-morning bus ride to play in an early-morning game to remind you’re in the AHL rather than the NHL.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cracking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking%20up. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share