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

This cracks long plastic chains into smaller hydrocarbon chunks. —

Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 June 2026 Crooks gets to stay in the Big 12 as a senior, and Oklahoma State cracks the top 25. —

Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 Later, in response to some minor infraction, Joseph cracks his belt across little Michael’s butt. —

Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 Apr. 2026 That the New York DMA was in the mix is particularly noteworthy, as Gotham rarely cracks even the Super Bowl’s top-20 local markets—a function of its sheer size. —

Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026 Every winter, the freeze-thaw cycle cracks the asphalt from within. —

Yunus Emre Tozal, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026 But this idea cracks the Standard Model in a different way, and the simplest patch is to add another slightly ambidextrous, but mostly right-handed, sterile neutrino. —

Quanta Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026 But this celebration of the joys (and practical value) of gardening is also laced with comedy, as Galifianakis cracks plenty of jokes with the experts and kids joining him amongst the greenery. —

Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Apr. 2026 The deal cracks the seven figures, to be split by the writers. —

Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026

Noun

From a clinical perspective, these shortages have real consequences — long waits, days in an emergency room waiting for a psychiatric bed to open and conditions that worsen while people fall through the cracks. —

Cathryn Nacario, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026 This has been a persistent, ongoing leak caused by cracks in the PrK transfer tunnel which connects to the Russian Zvezda service module. —

Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 June 2026 The café, a local favorite at the base of the pier since the 1990s, was shut down when cracks were observed forming in the pier's concrete last week. —

Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 9 June 2026 Fully saturate the moss on the surface and the cracks between pavers. —

Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 June 2026 Authorities have warned that buildings that sustained cracks could collapse due to aftershocks, some of them dangerously powerful. —

Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani in the Philippines, told Reuters that the police building had some cracks immediately after the quake, which occurred during their flag-raising ceremony. —

Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 8 June 2026 Seal doors and windows by applying weatherstripping, caulking, or sealant to any gaps or cracks. —

Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 8 June 2026 Many shoppers routinely open a carton of eggs at the grocery store to check for cracks before buying them. —

Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracks

Verb

The pit itself pops out easily with a finger poke and a gentle pull.

— Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
Cassie Blake is Marianne Dashwood, a party-girl-slash-influencer in a crop-top and cargo pants who says whatever pops into her head and doesn’t mind being messy.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026