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
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cracks
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
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
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Seal cracks with caulk or weather stripping, add door sweeps and repair torn screens.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 16 June 2026
But London isn’t all afternoon tea and friendly faces — and even the seemingly happiest of families can have cracks beneath the surface.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 16 June 2026
This is a book about hope — the stubborn, defiant belief that even after life breaks us open, light can still pour through the cracks.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Following the initial closure, the cracks worsened, prompting the demolition of the Chit Chat Café at the base of the pier last week.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 15 June 2026
The new cracks discovered in early June brought the total to about 16.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026
Inspect hoses every six months for damage like cracks, bulges, or corrosion to avoid leaks or bursts.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 15 June 2026
Smaller cracks can be repaired with epoxy glue, but even that is only a temporary fix.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 15 June 2026
Verb
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
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
Noun
Avoid buying produce with cracks, cuts, or blemishes.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Seal cracks with caulk or weather stripping, add door sweeps and repair torn screens.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 16 June 2026
But London isn’t all afternoon tea and friendly faces — and even the seemingly happiest of families can have cracks beneath the surface.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 16 June 2026
This is a book about hope — the stubborn, defiant belief that even after life breaks us open, light can still pour through the cracks.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Following the initial closure, the cracks worsened, prompting the demolition of the Chit Chat Café at the base of the pier last week.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 15 June 2026
The new cracks discovered in early June brought the total to about 16.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026
Inspect hoses every six months for damage like cracks, bulges, or corrosion to avoid leaks or bursts.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 15 June 2026
Smaller cracks can be repaired with epoxy glue, but even that is only a temporary fix.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracks
Verb
-
Greta Lee pops in a casual fit at SiriusXM's Front Row with the Toy Story 5 cast in Los Angeles on June 10.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
-
That said, don’t assume that the pricing that pops up on Google is going to 100 percent accurately describe an item’s value.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Not the one who chokes in the playoffs.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
Democratic lawmakers aren’t particularly sympathetic to the industry, pointing to reports of soaring profits for oil companies as the war chokes consumers around the world.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
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
Verb
-
Enough sunshine on Sunday should push temperatures back into the low 90s before a cooler breeze knocks us back to normal on Monday.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
And that's when a shot blasts through the door and knocks Lena to the ground.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Replacing natural sand with coal waste solves two environmental headaches at once.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
This ordinance solves a problem that doesn’t exist.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2026
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
Noun
-
So, too, does the idea that a soccer coach could close fissures that even the well-meaning among career politicians have failed to seal.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
-
The group is particularly interested in suspending, fracturing, and reconstructing time through which othered bodies and identities pass, and in exploring the attendant emerging fissures.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Feminism was anti-gerontocratic, too, striking blows against old men and their old ways.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
-
The biggest blows came from Garcia and Starling Marte.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cracks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracks. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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