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
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 racked
The gooners racked their brains.
—
Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The forwards are all stacked and racked until the team makes the call on Roslovic.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Rosen referenced cases where prosecutors sought an order for a man who had posted social-media threats involving the San Jose Convention Center, and for a county employee who openly brandished and racked a handgun at work.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Gasca’s family was racked by drugs and abuse.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
His films have often dealt in an abstract way with the Civil War that racked Sri Lanka for 26 years.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2025
Each year, the previous vintage’s wine is racked off just before harvest, and fresh juice is added immediately—keeping the lees wet and active.
—Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Afterward, Evie walked through the neighborhood and racked her brain.
—Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The forwards are all stacked and racked until the team makes the call on Roslovic.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Rosen referenced cases where prosecutors sought an order for a man who had posted social-media threats involving the San Jose Convention Center, and for a county employee who openly brandished and racked a handgun at work.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Gasca’s family was racked by drugs and abuse.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
His films have often dealt in an abstract way with the Civil War that racked Sri Lanka for 26 years.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2025
Each year, the previous vintage’s wine is racked off just before harvest, and fresh juice is added immediately—keeping the lees wet and active.
—Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Afterward, Evie walked through the neighborhood and racked her brain.
—Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racked
Verb
-
There was a real question how the impact of him being on base nine times and the accompanying leg cramps that plagued him late in extra innings would affect his stamina less than 24 hours later.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The park process, by contrast, has been plagued with high costs, lawsuits and scandals including three critical grand jury reports.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hot dishes pulled from the oven should never be put directly into cold water, and any glass pans pulled from the refrigerator for reheating should be brought to room temperature before heating.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Photos taken of Kitzing at the time of their arrest in 1936 show them in feminine dress, with long hair pulled back, wearing a fur coat and a hat.—
Kate Sosin,
Them.,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Wars and insurrections have afflicted other parts of the Middle East, but Baghdad—a city whose name was once synonymous with suicide bombings and sectarian murder—has been spared.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The Lakers were down LeBron James, afflicted by nerve pain.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The apology came after a sustained campaign by historians and activists who argued that the victims were persecuted for being poor, vulnerable, or simply different.—
James Frater,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Its depictions of dancing devils and witches’ sabbaths are supposed to scare viewers straight, but writer-director Benjamin Christensen is also sympathetic towards the plight of medieval women persecuted for witchcraft.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As of 2025, at least 130 people are known to have been tortured by Burge and his detectives.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Another 11 suspected Tren de Aragua members were hit with multiple felony charges in December after a couple living in the now-shuttered Edge of Lowry apartments was kidnapped and tortured.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Racked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racked. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share