crackle

verb

Definition of cracklenext
as in to hiss
to make a series of short, sharp noises The logs crackled in the fire. The leaves crackled under our feet. a crackling fire

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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 crackle The play’s issues are greatly outweighed by the many hilarious lines that crackle all over the stage, so many of them perfectly timed and out of left field, causing surprising morsels of legit laughter. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 17 July 2026 The cookie dough balls are rolled in powdered sugar, which crackles and splits apart while the cookies puff and bake. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 17 July 2026 The book’s strongest component, by far, is the relationship between Tim and Virginia, which crackles with true-to-life ambiguity. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 The bald icon, the lollipop, the legend… and the cast who kept New York’s mean streets crackling. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crackle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crackle
  1. hiss
  2. rustle
Verb
  • Wynn said the alligator started to get agitated and even opened its mouth and hissed at her.
    — Steven Yablonski, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • The complete assembly weighs just enough for the Madagascar hissing cockroach, a species favored for cyborg research because of its large size, robustness, and wingless body, to carry without significantly impairing its movement.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
Definition of hiss
Verb
  • In an appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s late night show in 2016, Trump allowed the host to rustle his hair.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The only sounds were the birds, rustling leaves in the soft breeze, and insects buzzing around from flower to flower.
    — Lucrezia Worthington, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 June 2026
Definition of rustle

Browse Nearby Words

cracking wise
crackle
crackled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crackle. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crackle

Nglish: Translation of crackle for Spanish Speakers

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