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

But the real reason this outing cracks the list isn’t simply the six touchdowns. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 When that foundation cracks, every other part of life begins to shift with it. — Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The higher detection frequency is a technical capability, not evidence that the system detects cracks five times earlier or more accurately. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 The bigger concern is a shortcut that cracks an entire family of mathematical problems at once, and with it every system built on them. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026 Zaïd cracks a wide smile exposing the gap left by four missing front teeth. — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026 The story centers on a transfer student’s enigmatic bond with a teacher, as a string of unexplained, supernatural incidents cracks the school’s polished facade. — Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 And Guy Pearce cracks it as the Aussie who beat the Brits at their own game of publishing. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 When Pennywise cracks a joke, the contrast of his antics with the scary stuff can be more impactful, have more personality, than just scare after scare. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

Noun

As cracks emerge in the global AI rally, data from LSEG shows Indian benchmark indexes have outperformed global peers over the past month, as some investors see the Indian market as a hedge against AI. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026 Lights from torches and Navi the fairy play off the floors and walls of dungeons with lavish detail, making metal glint and bringing out the cracks and contours of stone and tile. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026 To prevent mice from venturing inside, fill or seal gaps or cracks around your home’s doors, windows, foundation, and pipes. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 5 Nov. 2026 Though his younger brother Rudy (Kai Parham) is eager to welcome his roommate and best friend back into the fold, and Odessa’s dinner spread rivals any Thanksgiving feast, the Clay household is not without its cracks and dark shadows. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026 Audiences also saw serious cracks in Jen and Zac Affleck's relationship. — Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026 Some owners experienced cracks along the inner screen near the hinge within hours or days of purchase, sometimes during initial setup. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026 Crabs and mussels, prehistoric bugs, bits of seaweed, tiny minnows, they all get deposited, then stranded, in the cracks and crevices on top of these massive rocks. — Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026 But London isn’t all afternoon teas and friendly faces – and even the happiest families have their cracks beneath the surface. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracks

Verb

Kenan Thompson then pops up in a ghoulish Grim Reaper costume to guide the couple through a series of scary scenes.

— William Earl, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026
Picket Fence pops up around town in places like Digress Wine in College Park and Tasty Takeover in the Milk District, but most of the time, fans pick up their goodies from Blake’s own backyard.

— Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 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

Anxiety knocks people off autopilot, sharpens attention and sends them looking for new information.

— Monique Mitchell Turner, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026
The Newmark report also knocks the draft deal for saddling Miami-Dade with too many risks of cost overruns and other risks that a private company would typically shoulder in a venture like this one.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of knocks

Noun

An exception to the rule occurs over volcanic fissures on the flanks of the Alba Mons volcano, in early summer.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026
The opposition has articulated clear differences from the current government on matters of domestic policy, but major fissures on the Palestinian conflict, Iran, and Israel’s wider regional military campaigns are less apparent.

— Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of fissures

Noun

Elsewhere, investors are absorbing the blows from a selloff in artificial intelligence stocks on Thursday, which saw the Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Russell 2000 all log their worst one-day loss since April 2025, according to FactSet data.

— Sarah Min,Sawdah Bhaimiya,Sean Conlon, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Since the breakdown of a truce in July, Saudi Arabia has traded blows with the Houthis, who have retaliated with strikes on Saudi airports, energy infrastructure and military sites that killed at least 20 people in October.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026