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

Relevance

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 By doing so, Congress is effectively inviting hackers and fraudsters into our digital wallets and opening the door for adversarial foreign networks to access the private financial data of American citizens. — Raquel Mitchell, Boston Herald, 8 July 2026 This position helps protect California’s web applications, cloud systems and AI tools from hackers and security threats. — Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 All that access exponentially increases the points of vulnerability and plays right into the hands of hackers. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 7 July 2026 There are plenty of interiors, of course, ranging from Helen’s ex-boyfriend’s apartment to a dilapidated hacker’s den. — Alex Zalben, IndieWire, 2 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
  • Kadiru was a surprise opponent, arguably best known for winning a Youth Olympics gold medal as a 17-year-old amateur in 2014.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • This summer, attendance grew to more than 500, most of them beginners or amateur climbers.
    — Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of amateur
Noun
  • The weekend-afternoon sales events became a phenomenon, drawing crowds to marvel at his wide-ranging tastes — not just hardcore music geeks or bibliophiles, but appreciators of New York cultural lore.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2026
  • By now, however, most know him as the lovable, cello-playing geek Leonard Hofstadter who married the pretty blonde waitress.
    — Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
Definition of geek
Noun
  • For older kids who have trouble adjusting to the demands on the school year, plenty of time to wind down after school and a predictable morning routine are key.
    — Parents, Parents, 17 July 2026
  • That said, this probably won’t be even faintly legible on a home entertainment system, let alone the handheld gadgets that kids like the ones seen here prefer to watch entertainment on these days.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • This fun, beginner-friendly class teaches the fundamentals of Texas Hold’em, giving you the confidence to join a friendly game.
    — Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • The app is especially well suited for beginners, busy professionals and anyone who feels overwhelmed by more complex budgeting systems.
    — Catherine Collins, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of beginner
Noun
  • The prospect that attackers have had the means to bypass Secure Boot for more than a decade through what amounts to hack-by-numbers scripts isn’t much of an endorsement of the mechanism proposed by Microsoft in partnership with hardware makers.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026
  • Thickening mist, root volumizer, dry shampoo, and texturizing spray all pair seamlessly with the brand's iconic root touchup products for the ultimate hack in keeping your hair looking thick, full and flawless between salon visits.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of hack
Noun
  • Haaland has become a social media phenomenon, with his own posts and memes from others turning even soccer novices into diehard fans.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 13 July 2026
  • The last death at San Fermin's bull runs occurred in 2009, but gorings and broken bones are common, partly due to the large number of novice bull runners and foreign tourists who join the experienced locals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of novice

Browse Nearby Words

hacked (off)
hacker
hackers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hacker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hacker. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hacker

Nglish: Translation of hacker for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hacker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All