1
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
the young man was racked with guilt over the lie he had told to his parents the country has been racked by years of civil war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pulled
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
she racked her brain trying to remember where she'd put the money the sails of the boat were racked by the storm's winds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of racked
Seeing a person react with kindness and not ridicule – that’s radical at a time when American society seems racked with division and social media encourages public criticism and vitriol.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 June 2026
Either way, our jaws have been adequately dropped, our nerves properly racked, and our nails thoroughly bitten by the end of each episode.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026
The final decade of the artist’s life was itself marked by its own fraught geopolitics, with the political upheaval and global conflict that racked the world in the 1930s, prior to Klee’s death in 1940.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 11 May 2026
Police said the sound of a firearm being racked can be heard on the video just before a shot was heard in the dining area.
—Skyler Shepard, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Sure enough, in a subsequent watch-through-your-fingers climbing scene, a harrowing mishap leaves him dead and Sasha racked with guilt.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
On audio, a pump-action shotgun can be heard being racked.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
During the Arab Spring revolts of the early 2010s, Cairo was routinely racked by blackouts, and Mansour teamed up with an architect friend to experiment with rooftop solar on houses.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Outside, Laredo-Arellano can be seen on security video attempting to get between the women and stop them from shoving one another, a few moments before Barocio’s friend, 34-year-old Angelo Delacruz, of Antioch, pulled out a gun and racked it.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 June 2026
Either way, our jaws have been adequately dropped, our nerves properly racked, and our nails thoroughly bitten by the end of each episode.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026
The final decade of the artist’s life was itself marked by its own fraught geopolitics, with the political upheaval and global conflict that racked the world in the 1930s, prior to Klee’s death in 1940.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 11 May 2026
Police said the sound of a firearm being racked can be heard on the video just before a shot was heard in the dining area.
—Skyler Shepard, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Sure enough, in a subsequent watch-through-your-fingers climbing scene, a harrowing mishap leaves him dead and Sasha racked with guilt.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
On audio, a pump-action shotgun can be heard being racked.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
During the Arab Spring revolts of the early 2010s, Cairo was routinely racked by blackouts, and Mansour teamed up with an architect friend to experiment with rooftop solar on houses.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Outside, Laredo-Arellano can be seen on security video attempting to get between the women and stop them from shoving one another, a few moments before Barocio’s friend, 34-year-old Angelo Delacruz, of Antioch, pulled out a gun and racked it.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racked
Verb
-
Throughout the rosary recital in the grotto, I was plagued with worry.—
Annie Ernaux,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Criminal groups have increasingly launched drone strikes and armed attacks have plagued the race, and last June, politician and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, was fatally shot at a political rally.—
Raquel Coronell Uribe,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Colorado pulled to 8-3 in the fifth on Tyler Freeman’s two-run homer, but the Angels answered again in the bottom half on Jo Adell’s RBI single for a 9-3 lead.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
The hood’s intake is mounted at the back, so smoke and fumes rising from the back burners get pulled straight up into it.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Losses from cattle afflicted by the parasite could run into the billions of dollars, with larger effects across the American economy, according to USDA estimates.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
Identifying Black Spot Roses can be afflicted by several common plant diseases.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
-
Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation.—
Eric Tucker,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Armand tortured and planned to drain Daniel, but Louis stepped in to save him.—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
-
The story of Alabama's congressional map is long and tortured.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Racked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racked. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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