as in hissing
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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Recent Examples of crackling
Settle in for a night of starry skies by the crackling fire at a variety of cabins, lodges, campsites, and yurts.
—
Joie Probst, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026
There’s still plenty of terrific action and a nice, dark sense of humor, but the show's biggest draw is this counterfeit couple's crackling chemistry.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Fifty years ago, astronaut communications from the moon were jumpily remote, shadowy, static-crackling affairs in which viewers missed every other gesture and word.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
The crew left Earth on April 1, solid rocket boosters crackling as NASA’s Space Launch System hurled them through the atmosphere 20 times faster than the speed of sound.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crackling
Joie Probst, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026
There’s still plenty of terrific action and a nice, dark sense of humor, but the show's biggest draw is this counterfeit couple's crackling chemistry.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Fifty years ago, astronaut communications from the moon were jumpily remote, shadowy, static-crackling affairs in which viewers missed every other gesture and word.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
The crew left Earth on April 1, solid rocket boosters crackling as NASA’s Space Launch System hurled them through the atmosphere 20 times faster than the speed of sound.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crackling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crackling
Verb
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Growling, hissing and swiping, Scooter charged at a glass door, holding its ground as the bears lingered just outside.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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Then there's hissing through the air vents.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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End your drive with a stay at Chinati Hot Springs, and soak in the steaming springwater beneath rustling cottonwoods and the glittering expanse of Texas stars.—
Eva Frederick,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Apr. 2026
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How Green Noise Differs From White Noise Green noise refers to a mid-frequency sound profile centered around 500 Hz that mimics nature sounds like ocean waves, gentle rain and rustling leaves.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With the June primary looming, Villaraigosa’s campaign risks sputtering out.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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With the majority of their big-league starting lineup competing in the World Baseball Classic, the offense is sputtering big-time.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crackling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crackling. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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