CRACKS Synonyms: 406 Similar and Opposite Words

cracks 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of crack

as in pops

to break suddenly with an explosive sound the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight

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as in chokes

to yield to mental or emotional stress after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession

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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

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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

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as in solves

to find an answer for through reasoning I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it

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as in crazes

to cause to go insane or as if insane cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently

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cracks

2 of 2

noun

plural of crack

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

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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

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as in claps

a loud explosive sound the tree fell with a sharp crack

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as in attempts

an effort to do or accomplish something this is my first crack at painting

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as in jokes

something said or done to cause laughter a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing

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as in eccentrics

a person of odd or whimsical habits that conspiracy theorist has been labeled a crack by the ballistics experts

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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 cracks

Verb

Pre-fall closes the chapter on summer but cracks one open to fall. — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026 Jessica transforms the betrayal of a generation taught that work would protect them into visceral cinema, where illness cracks the skin while luxury masks collapse. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 When that belief cracks, the line stops being a signal and starts being a complaint. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 31 July 2026 Nobody cracks 60 points, even though this was early in the cap era when scoring was up. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 30 July 2026 Anger When denial finally cracks, the energy that follows goes one of two directions. — Tim Albright, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Holmes deduces that each pose represents a letter and cracks the code by matching the most common poses with the most common letters. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026 There was one where the both managers got ejected in the same moment, which cracks me up. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026 This cracks long plastic chains into smaller hydrocarbon chunks. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 June 2026

Noun

But research shows contaminated toys are still slipping through the cracks. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2026 Over time, that stress can produce cracks, expose new surfaces to the electrolyte, and accelerate reactions that reduce battery performance. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026 When teams don’t agree on what’s real, working capital slips through the cracks before the deal is booked. — Ashish Srimal, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 While the innovation doesn’t prevent all cracking, the DNGEs' particulate formation forces cracks to wind through soft regions instead of traveling in straight lines. — New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2026 That means real, aggressive investment in the payment assistance programs meant to catch the quarter-million households already falling through the cracks. — Tyrone E. Keys Jr, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 Gen immediately proves Aesha right by hoping the next guests are more demanding so cracks will show. — Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 Through the cracks in Sepp the tuba player’s monologue, readers may try to catch a glimpse of the taciturn listener stuck in the gondola with him. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 Clogged gutters can lead to serious home issues, from fascia rot and pest infestations to flooding and even foundation cracks. — Nick Perry, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracks

Verb

The case pops right open when dropped, and the buds launch out.

— Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
This type of edible mushroom often pops up at the base or on the trunk of oak trees.

— Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of pops

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
With that base knowledge and his opponent’s game tape, Nolan analyzes wide receiver alignments and deciphers the offense's attack.

— Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Sep. 2025

Definition of deciphers

Verb

For residents who didn’t respond to knocks on their doors, their bags were left for safekeeping with Mai Mei Su, the building’s residential manager.

— Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Max knocks on the door, a strange formality for a man about to burn the boat down to the waterline.

— JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026

Definition of knocks

Verb

Much like previous financial crazes around meme stocks and NFTs, true believers view prediction markets through a stick-it-to-the-man prism.

— Bobby Allyn, NPR, 17 Jan. 2026
Check out some of the most instantly recognizable ‘90s teen hallmarks, including the most popular bedroom furniture, beauty products, and fashion crazes.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026

Definition of crazes

Noun

The pitched and often emotional vote over Proposition 40 exposed deep fissures in the state party over how to respond to growing grassroots anger over wealth inequality.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
While effective in winning the war, the new government faced social and political fissures in the postwar period.

— Donovan Fifield, The Conversation, 16 July 2026

Definition of fissures

Noun

Former boxer Prichard Colón has died at age 33, 11 years after sustaining life-altering blows to the head during the only defeat of his professional career.

— Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Some encouraging blows for common sense were struck by primary voters to our north on Tuesday, on both sides of the aisle.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026