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
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
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
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
London Climate Action Week, now in its eighth year, was designed as a waypoint between COP conferences, and a place to elevate the work of entrepreneurs and organizers that can sometimes fall through the cracks at diplomatic summits.
—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
Cockroaches also get in through soffits, gables, cracks, windows and unsealed garage doors.
—
Eva Flowe
june 23,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
But cracks are forming in its core business.
—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
More than anything, the docuseries serves as a historical lesson about the cracks in America’s founding and how robust and fragile American democracy really is.
—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
22 June 2026
Its visual inspection camera captures high-resolution images for detecting structural abnormalities such as cracks, oil leaks, corrosion, and other signs of wear.
—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
As devastating as these developments may be, there have been established cracks in the Islanders’ connections for those with eyes to see.
—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
Seal cracks with caulk or weather stripping, add door sweeps and repair torn screens.
—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
16 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
Investigators found that initial structural failure spread to other elements of the pool deck and street-level parking garage and caused cracks to grow over the span of a few weeks, eventually unseating the southern edge of the pool deck slab from its supporting wall, the report said.
—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
London Climate Action Week, now in its eighth year, was designed as a waypoint between COP conferences, and a place to elevate the work of entrepreneurs and organizers that can sometimes fall through the cracks at diplomatic summits.
—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
Cockroaches also get in through soffits, gables, cracks, windows and unsealed garage doors.
—
Eva Flowe
june 23,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
But cracks are forming in its core business.
—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
More than anything, the docuseries serves as a historical lesson about the cracks in America’s founding and how robust and fragile American democracy really is.
—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
22 June 2026
Its visual inspection camera captures high-resolution images for detecting structural abnormalities such as cracks, oil leaks, corrosion, and other signs of wear.
—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
As devastating as these developments may be, there have been established cracks in the Islanders’ connections for those with eyes to see.
—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
Seal cracks with caulk or weather stripping, add door sweeps and repair torn screens.
—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracks
Verb
-
Color quality is awesome, and contrast really pops.
-
Spielberg didn’t film those terrifying closeups of the shark – like when Jaws pops up as Brody is shoveling the bloody chump slick in the water — until Day 92.
Verb
-
Connecticut’s largest cities also struggle with the state’s highest property tax rates, which chokes business growth and, in turn, shifts more burden onto residential owners.
-
Not the one who chokes in the playoffs.
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.
-
With that base knowledge and his opponent’s game tape, Nolan analyzes wide receiver alignments and deciphers the offense's attack.
Verb
-
From conveyor belts and baggage carts to overhead bins and taxi trunks, luggage is constantly subjected to bumps, knocks and rough handling.
-
This knocks Europe out in a single shot.
Verb
-
That solves the access problem and but creates other dependencies and different costs.
-
This is a chaos mock draft, and 2) Peterson solves a potential problem for the Jazz.
Verb
-
Much like previous financial crazes around meme stocks and NFTs, true believers view prediction markets through a stick-it-to-the-man prism.
-
Check out some of the most instantly recognizable ‘90s teen hallmarks, including the most popular bedroom furniture, beauty products, and fashion crazes.
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.
-
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.
Noun
-
Onaje died four days later — having suffered fatal brain hemorrhaging from multiple blows to his skull.
-
Officers said that Samartino quickly assessed the situation and immediately began administering back blows to the infant.
Cite this Entry
“Cracks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracks. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
