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

Anyone who cracks your unlock code can get into nearly every app, from banking to social media and even your email—the keys to the kingdom. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 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 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

Our geologists suspect that the polygons outline fractures that formed through drying, like cracks in mud do, or through thermal cycles, or compression. — Ashwin R. Vasavada, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 Several popular budgeting apps can spot subscriptions that may have fallen through the cracks. — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 The retrofit is needed primarily because many of the 499 piles that hold up the piers have micro-cracks. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026 In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup of the lemon juice, the avocado oil, turmeric, onion powder, garlic powder, basil, oregano, salt, and a few cracks of pepper. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 His main brush with emergency response appears to have been the department’s response to Hurricane Ian, where employees rebuilt a bridge to Pine Island in just three days and repaired massive cracks in the Sanibel Causeway in just 15 days. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 Warmer temperatures may have hastened the collapse that led to Nepal’s deadly flooding, with melting snow able to seep into cracks in the glacier and mountain rocks, weakening them, Shugar said. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 While Harry did reunite with his father, the lack of meeting between the brothers signified that cracks between them still run deep. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Looking past the empty storefronts and weeds growing through the cracks in the parking lot, Pine Tree House has a homey, diner-like atmosphere and some of the best Korean food in the area. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracks

Verb

Between driving, walking while listening to podcasts, and firing off every random question that pops into my head, these might actually stick around.

— Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Toward the southern end of the park, the LeFrak Center offers ice skating in winter and roller skating in summer, and Smorgasburg, a Sunday local food fair, pops up from April to October.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 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

When a headline knocks a stock down, the useful question is whether anything inside the business moved.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Brink is no stranger to the injury bug, as this is just the latest in a series of knocks the Sparks center has taken recently.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of knocks

Verb

With just eight percent calcium, the material shows high tunability and solves a problem that has plagued the communications industry for decades.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Leaders should be asking how their own sector traditionally solves a problem, as well as who elsewhere has solved a version of it exceptionally well.

— Jen Fuller, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of solves

Noun

On a historic square in Savannah, with live oaks cloaked in Spanish moss, Aaron Whitley, the Chatham County Democratic Party chair, says Ossoff has managed to transcend those fissures better than most.

— Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Wilson explores these relational fissures throughout the novel but does not resolve them.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of fissures

Noun

The impact of yesterday’s sharp drop in South Korean equities transmitted further into US markets overnight, spreading selling sentiment and dealing heavy blows to US semiconductor and memory stocks.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Guevera also reportedly came to blows with Eddie Kingston in 2022, leading to Kingston’s suspension.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026