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 The downloads also include password-cracking tools that can be used by hackers to break into people’s accounts. — Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 In June 2023, federal prosecutors say a hacker gained access to a furniture vendor that contacts with Children’s. — Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 23 July 2026 The incident also suggests that cybersecurity defenses designed to stop human hackers may be outmatched by AI agents capable of searching for vulnerabilities and acting at machine speed. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 23 July 2026 Leaders focus on hackers but forget that bad rules, outdated data or unchecked AI can quietly deny permits, misroute services or flag residents unfairly. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 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
  • How much more difficult to assess the quality of a fifteen year old amateur.
    — Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Nick Dunlap won as an amateur at the American Express in 2024.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of amateur
Noun
  • Funko occupies a massive physical footprint in a far corner of the convention center at SDCC, the annual pop culture festival that attracts over 130,000 fans and geeks from around the world.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
  • For aviation geeks or those who simply want to keep track of their plane’s unique flying data and route, squawk codes can be tracked on apps and websites like Flightradar24 and Flight Beacon.
    — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2026
Definition of geek
Noun
  • Send both members of the cool-kid clique home at the same time?
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • Traci, Howe said, was ready to have kids and was happy to have a man with a stable income.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • For anyone easing in, resources such as Massachusetts General Hospital and EatingWell offer meal plans and beginner recipes.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
  • For anyone new to the plan, Massachusetts General Hospital and EatingWell publish sample meal plans and beginner recipes.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
Definition of beginner
Noun
  • Add orange peels to the fridge—a simple hack that’s prettier than a box of baking soda.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 27 July 2026
  • The singularity claim arrived within days of the hack, in the middle of a US–China race and a fresh executive order asking labs to share models with the government before release.
    — Lutz Finger, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of hack
Noun
  • Knowledgeable bartenders guide novices and obsessives alike, making an overwhelming list feel approachable rather than intimidating.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • With tastings, master classes, wine-and-food pairing seminars, conversations, concerts, and in several cases, auctions, wine festivals offer something for everyone from novice to expert.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 23 July 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 30 Jul. 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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