1
as in applauding
to declare enthusiastic approval of
that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of cracking up
The dogs were confused, not sure whether to attack or run for cover, and Susan was cracking up.
—
Sid Evans, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
The camera cut to O’Leary cracking up in the audience.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2026
Winner This week's winner left us cracking up with his acting skills.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Kathy — who has earned an enormous fan base thanks to her honesty and lack of pretense on the Bravo reality series — had the crowd at the Caesars Forum convention center cracking up from the moment the panel began.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 15 Nov. 2025
The woods may be overrun, this year, with cabins in the woods capable of cracking up couples by laying all their faults bare.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 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
Sid Evans, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
The camera cut to O’Leary cracking up in the audience.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2026
Winner This week's winner left us cracking up with his acting skills.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Kathy — who has earned an enormous fan base thanks to her honesty and lack of pretense on the Bravo reality series — had the crowd at the Caesars Forum convention center cracking up from the moment the panel began.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 15 Nov. 2025
The woods may be overrun, this year, with cabins in the woods capable of cracking up couples by laying all their faults bare.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 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
-
The nonprofit issued a statement on Wednesday applauding Huerta’s decision to share her story.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
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Players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans rose as one, applauding and cheering the confirmation of their spot in this most American spectacle.—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Dotonbori district is so alive and vibrant at night, with all kinds of street vendors, people laughing in the street, and these fun, glowing party boats going by in the canals.—
Matt Bomer,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
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When his star player scored a goal and pointed to his wife and baby out in the stands, Petzold burst out laughing.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Instead, some progressive allies rushed to denounce Israel’s military response while either praising or refusing to condemn Hamas.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Hearts have melted online after a scared rescue dog bravely faced her fear in order to join her owner, with many viewers praising her unquestionable courage and determination.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
What about destroying the stockpile by blowing up the canisters?—
Sheena Samu,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Since the early days of the pandemic — which is when many Stationerycore fans and creators at the festival date their stationery awakening — the stationery industry has been steadily expanding, even blowing up.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Released in July 1996, the giggling red toy went viral during the 1996 Christmas season, sparking frenzied shopping scenes at stores across the country.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2026
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Little kids are especially talented at the sort of goofiness that gets everyone giggling with joy.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The actor is set to star alongside Dakota Fanning in Apple TV’s untitled original thriller series hailing from Alex Cary, who previously created the mini-series A Spy Among Friends and earned his thriller cred as a writer-producer on Homeland.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Mar. 2026
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Competition is heating up at the luxury end of the ride-hailing market.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, cage announcer Bruce Buffer caused confusion by reading the scores incorrectly, announcing totals that favored Fortune’s opponent.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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The Sutter County Central Committee’s money began rolling in after Republican legislative leaders emailed a letter to lobbyists in Sacramento in July 2025, announcing the group would be breaking away from fundraising with the state party.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One video shows black smoke streaming out of a building where a wall is painted blue with flowers and the sound of a woman can be heard screaming.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
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Nunez then began raping her while Jones stuffed rocks in her mouth to try to stop her from screaming, detectives said in the report.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cracking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking%20up. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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