1
2
as in chokes
to yield to mental or emotional stress
after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in deciphers
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
the United States military used the Navajo language as a code during World War II, and the enemy never cracked it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in knocks
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
cracked the bow of the ship with a champagne bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in solves
to find an answer for through reasoning
I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in crazes
to cause to go insane or as if insane
cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in fissures
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure
a pebble struck the car's windshield and left a spidery crack in it
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a disciplinary crack on the hand with a ruler was once common in schoolrooms
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in claps
a loud explosive sound
the tree fell with a sharp crack
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in eccentrics
a person of odd or whimsical habits
that conspiracy theorist has been labeled a crack by the ballistics experts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cracks
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Apple will be there waiting, sitting on a mountain of cash, ready to partner with (or outright acquire) whichever operation cracks the code.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
For example, Harvard barely cracks the top 30.
—Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Video of Bo Nix‘s rookie season plays on an endless loop — until, at last, someone cracks the code.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
The younger woman cracks her neck side to side.
—Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
If the suspension knuckle cracks the suspension arm may detach.
—James Powel, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
What struck me as beautiful about the scene on the staircase when Peggy breaks down with her mother in the finale is that Peggy finally cracks under the weight of carrying this grief and walking such a tightrope.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
That’s not to say this story of a woman whose flawless façade barely cracks even as her insides crumble doesn’t fray your nerves.
—Jon Frosch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Later, when cracks emerged after construction started and the cement had been poured, consultants who recommended covering the façade with a rubbery coating to seal the cracks were similarly dismissed.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 20 Oct. 2025
Indeed, a 2020 study found that meltwater trickling into Antarctica’s ice shelves could infiltrate cracks and force them open, a precursor to marine ice cliff instability that DeConto and colleagues envisioned.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
But for all the president’s demands, his leverage over Beijing is showing cracks as the Chinese economy continues to go from strength to strength.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
The cracks could allow coolant to infiltrate into the block heater to cord interface and leave electrically conductive salt deposits, leading to salt bridges or corrosion that would cause the short circuit, according to the recall report.
—James Powel, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Family said Laila sustained cracks in her spine, according to WXYZ-TV.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
And despite Monday’s prisoner and hostage exchange offering progress on the peace process, cracks in this aspect of the agreement have already appeared.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
The Wolverines expected to be taking off at this point in the season, but instead the offense looks largely the same and the defense is showing some uncharacteristic cracks.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
Phillies avoid Shohei Ohtani, but Jhoan Duran cracks Jhoan Duran faced 81 batters after a summer trade brought him to the Phillies.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Apple will be there waiting, sitting on a mountain of cash, ready to partner with (or outright acquire) whichever operation cracks the code.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
For example, Harvard barely cracks the top 30.
—Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Video of Bo Nix‘s rookie season plays on an endless loop — until, at last, someone cracks the code.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
The younger woman cracks her neck side to side.
—Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
If the suspension knuckle cracks the suspension arm may detach.
—James Powel, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
What struck me as beautiful about the scene on the staircase when Peggy breaks down with her mother in the finale is that Peggy finally cracks under the weight of carrying this grief and walking such a tightrope.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
That’s not to say this story of a woman whose flawless façade barely cracks even as her insides crumble doesn’t fray your nerves.
—Jon Frosch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
Always avoid microwaving any glass that has visible chips or cracks.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Later, when cracks emerged after construction started and the cement had been poured, consultants who recommended covering the façade with a rubbery coating to seal the cracks were similarly dismissed.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 20 Oct. 2025
Indeed, a 2020 study found that meltwater trickling into Antarctica’s ice shelves could infiltrate cracks and force them open, a precursor to marine ice cliff instability that DeConto and colleagues envisioned.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
But for all the president’s demands, his leverage over Beijing is showing cracks as the Chinese economy continues to go from strength to strength.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
The cracks could allow coolant to infiltrate into the block heater to cord interface and leave electrically conductive salt deposits, leading to salt bridges or corrosion that would cause the short circuit, according to the recall report.
—James Powel, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Family said Laila sustained cracks in her spine, according to WXYZ-TV.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
And despite Monday’s prisoner and hostage exchange offering progress on the peace process, cracks in this aspect of the agreement have already appeared.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
The Wolverines expected to be taking off at this point in the season, but instead the offense looks largely the same and the defense is showing some uncharacteristic cracks.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracks
Verb
-
The display pops outdoors, the camera produces crisp, colorful photos, and Galaxy AI features like quick summaries and cross-app actions make life smoother.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 Oct. 2025
-
These pants serve as a fun addition to fall outfits, as the print pops in a sea of blue jeans.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hybrid-resilient architecture—local backups that can kick in like muscle memory when the cloud chokes.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
On the ground, there’s a war of grappling, chokes, and limb breaks, and Oliveira is one of the best to ever fight it.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Qualcomm’s chip can run Linux, along with Arduino software, and can even do computer vision, which deciphers what a camera sees and translates it into software.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
-
My body no longer deciphers its signals correctly.—
Alaa Alqaisi
August 13,
Literary Hub,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Gap High-Rise Cuffed Wide-Leg Jeans Gap’s denim collection always knocks it out of the park, and these cuffed wide-leg jeans are no exception.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The loss knocks the Sooners out of the CFP field — for now — and the Tigers stay just on the outside.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The revelation not only solves the cold cases but forces Joel to confront the reality of his father’s moral corruption and the weight of his legacy.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The new sequel, meanwhile, solves the problem of the Grabber’s demise at the end of the last movie by giving him the power to attack Finney’s little sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), in her dreams.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Famous for their made-to-order burgers and secret menu hacks, California-based In-N-Out has been flipping patties since 1948, building a devoted fan base that predates social media crazes.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The reality is that the global network has become a transmission mechanism for all kinds of manias and panics, just as the combination of printing and literacy temporarily increased the prevalence of millenarian sects and witch crazes.—
Niall Ferguson,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Aug. 2017
Noun
-
This invisible, climate-polluting gas can escape into the water through fissures in the sea floor, often revealing itself with a stream of bubbles weaving their way up to the ocean surface.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Johanon's remarks centered on the fissures in society.—
Detroit Free Press staff,
Freep.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Both offenses traded blows, with Brewer receiver Devan Roberts landing the last one.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Tense exchanges and frequent interruptions have marked the evening, as both candidates seek to land decisive blows ahead of Election Day.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cracks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracks. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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