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
Afternoons are for sweating it out in saunas, reading a good book or having a nap in a gentle swinging hammock, while evenings are for cozying up, a candlelit dinner, and a crackling fire.
—
Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026
Inside, crackling fires create inviting places to sip a bourbon cocktail.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
In minutes a big fire was crackling.
—Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
The native of Roi Et, a small village in Northeast Thailand, learned to cook from her mother and great-grandmother and carries forth their legacy with pungent pad ka pow and succulent roast chicken with crackling skin.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crackling
Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026
Inside, crackling fires create inviting places to sip a bourbon cocktail.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
In minutes a big fire was crackling.
—Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
The native of Roi Et, a small village in Northeast Thailand, learned to cook from her mother and great-grandmother and carries forth their legacy with pungent pad ka pow and succulent roast chicken with crackling skin.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crackling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crackling
Verb
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Then there's hissing through the air vents.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Mar. 2026
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Warning signs a skunk is ready to spray include jumping, stamping their front feet, arching their back, clicking teeth, and hissing.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The ebb and flow sounds like rustling leaves or trickling water, somehow both earthly and hyperreal.—
Aimee Cliff,
Pitchfork,
3 Apr. 2026
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Those few included Sacajawea, the Indian guide for Lewis and Clark, and Ella Watson, hanged for cattle rustling.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 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 5 Apr. 2026.
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