1
2
as in to choke
to yield to mental or emotional stress
after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to decipher
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language
the United States military used the Navajo language as a code during World War II, and the enemy never cracked it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to knock
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
cracked the bow of the ship with a champagne bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning
I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to bother
to cause to go insane or as if insane
cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in fissure
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure
a pebble struck the car's windshield and left a spidery crack in it
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a disciplinary crack on the hand with a ruler was once common in schoolrooms
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in bang
a loud explosive sound
the tree fell with a sharp crack
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter
a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits
that conspiracy theorist has been labeled a crack by the ballistics experts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in skilled
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
known as one of the college's crack tennis players
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of crack
Paige Harriss, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025
In fact, the only basketball game to crack the top 100 broadcasts of 2024 was the Iowa-South Carolina title showdown on ABC, which averaged 18.9 million viewers.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Replace pet bowls as needed: Scratches or cracks in bowls can trap bacteria and be impossible to clean, whether in the dishwasher or by hand.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Verb
Now a state-of-the-art forensic lab near Houston, Texas -- which is focused solely on partnering with law enforcement on cold case investigations -- is gaining attention for its ability to use powerful DNA testing technology to help crack seemingly unsolvable cases.
—Paige Harriss, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025
In fact, the only basketball game to crack the top 100 broadcasts of 2024 was the Iowa-South Carolina title showdown on ABC, which averaged 18.9 million viewers.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
In principle, this allows for more sunlight to penetrate into the cracks fracturing the rocks, creating the physical and chemical conditions necessary for early life to thrive.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Replace pet bowls as needed: Scratches or cracks in bowls can trap bacteria and be impossible to clean, whether in the dishwasher or by hand.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
-
Original Dallas cast members Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing), Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing) and Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing), for example, initially popped into spinoff Knots Landing, which started out slow and ultimately ran for 14 seasons.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Finally in November of last year, another one popped up on TheRealReal.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But, just like peanut butter—which is considered healthy for infants—Levinson says that cold, firm chunks or thick globs of butter may pose a choking hazard.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Lawmakers need to get it together soon, or the economy will go from gagging to choking.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
His annual press conference, to be held later in the week, will be closely watched to decipher China’s stance on U.S.-China relations under Trump.—
TIME,
TIME,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Scientists had long thought that deciphering those qualities — collectively known as prosody — happened in the superior temporal gyrus, an area of the brain associated with speech perception.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
My ignorance about menopause knocked any such certainties firmly aside.—
Rebecca Mead,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Souring consumer sentiment knocked sports stocks back 4% in February, as apparel and gear makers bore the brunt of a market wide slump.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Puzzle after puzzle requires clever thinking and, most importantly, collaborative effort to solve.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Now, that’s not to say that Trump is going to solve anything.—
David Remnick,
The New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Gathering at Scripps Research’s third annual Pandemic Preparedness Symposium last week, researchers working in virology and chemistry did not bother to debate whether or not H5N1 avian influenza will clear this rapidly shrinking hurdle.—
Paul Sisson,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The obvious motive The administration hardly bothered to pretend that Brown (whose distinguished military and academic career includes a masters’ degree in in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach).wasn’t fired for being Black.—
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards,
Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Angela Stent, a former national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council, said Putin is likely in no rush to end the war amid the fissures between Trump and Zelensky and between Europe and the U.S. about the way ahead.—
AAMER MADHANI,
TIME,
3 Mar. 2025
-
With support for Proposition 1 varying little across race or geography, ideological lines proved to be the main fissure.—
Ari Plachta,
Sacramento Bee,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The film stars the gifted André Holland as a theater performer who becomes an amnesiac after suffering a violent blow to the head.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Mar. 2025
-
The loss was a big blow for the Kings, who played well without two starters but ultimately squandered an opportunity to move ahead of the Clippers for seventh in the Western Conference playoff race.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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