hacker

noun

ˈha-kər How to pronounce hacker (audio)
Definition of hackernext
1
as in cracker
a person who illegally gains access to a computer system and sometimes tampers with its information the company's security experts spent days trying to figure out how a hacker could have gotten past the firewall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in amateur
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science weekend golf hackers who are there mainly for the social networking

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 hacker Once inside, the hacker can change the DNS configuration without touching each guest's phone or laptop. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The rollout of Anthropic’s powerful Mythos model nearly four months ago raised concerns that hackers could potentially use these models to exploit vulnerabilities. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026 In 2023 and 2024, the Iranian hacker group CyberAV3ngers hacked water systems in the United States by attacking programmable logic controllers These are the same devices used in the attacks on Minnesota water systems. — Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 And speaking of hacks, for the second time in the past few weeks, hackers have used a Steam game to spread malware. — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hacker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hacker
  1. cyberpunk
  2. amateur
  3. geek
  4. kid
  5. beginner
  6. hack
  7. novice
Noun
  • Cyberpunk is the best known of all, assuming itself as an antithesis of utopian visions of science fiction worlds and simultaneously as a space of dystopias in which the cyberpunk fights against artificial intelligence that controls the world.
    — Paulo Nuno VicenteAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
  • Many are financed through crowdfunding, with subscribers garnering exclusive perks, and embrace subtitles and alternate audio (a series like the Japanese cyberpunk Milky Subway is dubbed in 10 different languages).
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
Definition of cyberpunk
Noun
  • Trump’s two main envoys to Moscow, his friend Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, were amateurs in international diplomacy and proved unable to start a proper negotiating process.
    — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
  • How much more difficult to assess the quality of a fifteen year old amateur.
    — Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of amateur
Noun
  • From nomadic migrations to geek culture, many of the works seek to record and archive changing relations to place and community, not only in Doha but across the Gulf region.
    — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Holland’s jittery, earnest, winsome take on the iconic 64-year-old comic iconic was instantly likable, radiating teen-geek charisma.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Definition of geek
Noun
  • The kids are now older and played by different actors (Emma Ho and Gabriel Barbosa).
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The idea is that keeping their community healthy will keep kids in school learning.
    — Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • The activity's simplicity means beginners can start light and progress gradually, even using household items for weight.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The property is just a five-minute walk from the Côte des Basques beach (one of the best beginner-friendly surf beaches in the city), and close to the restaurants and bars of the Beaurivage neighborhood (known locally as ‘Bibi’).
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 31 July 2026
Definition of beginner
Noun
  • Bitcoin has absorbed this kind of week before, most recently when DeFi's yield layer was rebuilt after last November's hacks.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • After the hack was reported, lawmakers introduced a new bill in the House that would give Washington the authority to shut down rogue AI models.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of hack
Noun
  • The best rock tumbler for beginners is one that comes as a complete kit, including the rocks, so the novice has the best chance of being successful on the first try.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • While El-Sayed was ahead in many polls over Stevens, including a recent survey conducted by Emerson College, the Democratic novice is trailing in some polling against Rogers, which the GOP nominee sees as advantageous.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of novice

Browse Nearby Words

hacked (off)
hacker
hackers
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Cite this Entry

“Hacker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hacker. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hacker

Nglish: Translation of hacker for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hacker

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