Synonyms of cross

cross 1 of 3

verb

1

as in to betray

to be unfaithful or disloyal to

people who cross the local mob boss usually are found floating in the river

Synonyms & Similar Words

• betray
• sell (out)
• double-cross
• stab in the back
• two-time
• sell down the river
• backstab
• go back on
• give away
• inform (on)
• shop
• peach
• snitch (on)
• turn in
• split (on)
• tell (on)
• rat (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protect
• save
• defend
• stand by
• guard
• safeguard
• shield

2

as in to intersect

to divide by passing through or across

there's a light where that street crosses Main Street

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intersect
• bisect
• cut
• crisscross
• decussate

3

as in to traverse

to make one's way through, across, or over

you may have to cross some woods on the way

Synonyms & Similar Words

• traverse
• follow
• walk
• navigate
• travel
• track
• cover
• pass (over)
• transit
• cut (across)
• course
• ride
• proceed (along)
• go
• hike
• peregrinate
• perambulate
• tread
• run
• tramp
• traipse
• crisscross

4

as in to strike

to enter the mind of

the idea did cross me that he might be pulling my leg

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strike
• come (to)
• occur (to)
• remember
• dawn (on)
• appear
• recall
• arrive
• emerge
• learn
• recollect
• memorize
• con
• reminisce
• materialize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• ignore
• disregard
• overlook
• neglect
• unlearn

cross

2 of 3

noun

ˈkrȯs 

1

as in fire

a test of faith, patience, or strength

dyslexia is just my cross to bear, and I accepted it long ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fire
• ordeal
• gauntlet
• trial
• crucible
• baptism of fire
• baptism
• initiation
• challenge
• misfortune
• tragedy
• hardship
• tribulation
• trouble
• grievance
• adversity
• woe
• grief
• privation
• mishap
• misadventure
• difficulty
• inconvenience
• acid test
• nuisance
• litmus test
• discomfort
• complication
• mischance
• affliction
• rigor
• vicissitude
• asperity
• annoyance

2

as in hybrid

an offspring of parents with different genes especially when of different races, breeds, species, or genera

the mare is an Arabian-Thoroughbred cross

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hybrid
• intercross
• mongrel
• crossbreed
• crossbred
• outcross
• mule
• half-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• thoroughbred
• full-blood
• purebred
• pureblood

cross

3 of 3

adjective

1

as in mixed

being offspring produced by parents of different races, breeds, species, or genera

raises both purebred and cross lambs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hybrid
• mixed
• crossbred
• mongrel
• crossed
• hybridized
• grade
• dihybrid
• cold-blooded
• trihybrid
• outcrossed
• half-bred
• interbred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blooded
• thoroughbred
• purebred
• full-blood
• inbred
• full-blooded
• pedigreed
• straightbred
• linebred

2

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed

she was cross all day because of a nagging headache

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritable
• fiery
• out of humor
• out of sorts
• short
• peevish
• testy
• snappish
• sensitive
• waspish
• petulant
• passionate
• irascible
• pettish
• grouchy
• grumpy
• crotchety
• snarky
• crabby
• choleric
• raspy
• perverse
• cranky
• stuffy
• prickly
• ratty
• contentious
• snippy
• snappy
• surly
• short-tempered
• disagreeable
• ornery
• snippety
• quick-tempered
• combative
• belligerent
• bilious
• bearish
• cantankerous
• fretful
• fractious
• bellicose
• argumentative
• cross-grained
• sulky
• dyspeptic
• pugnacious
• curmudgeonly
• querulous
• scrappy
• tetchy
• ill-tempered
• snarly
• sullen
• touchy
• quarrelsome
• off-color
• truculent
• pouty
• ill-humored
• ill-natured
• disputatious
• huffy
• thin-skinned
• hot-blooded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• friendly
• sweet
• outgoing
• cordial
• sociable
• companionable
• genial
• affable
• agreeable
• gregarious
• extroverted
• amiable
• patient
• good-natured
• relaxed
• carefree
• tolerant
• understanding
• easygoing
• well-disposed
• stoic
• uncomplaining
• obliging
• forbearing
• long-suffering
• good-tempered
• happy-go-lucky

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cross

Verb

After looking at each tile, walk along the Ribeira waterfront, then cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia for a glass of port wine in any of its ancient warehouses. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026

This year alone, more than 50 Afghans have died while trying to cross that body of water to escape Taliban rule, according to reports. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 July 2026

Noun

Behind her, in the back left corner of the box, teammate Janine Sonis, who prepped at Valor Christian, lofted a cross high into the mountain air and at the low right post. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 July 2026

With seven minutes left in extra time, Gotze did just that, chesting down a cross, then lobbing a volley into the net for the game’s only score, giving Germany its first title since Klinsmann’s team in 1990. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026

Phrases Containing cross

• cross (out)
• cross (up)
• cross fire
• cross paths (with)
• cross section
• double cross