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
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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 character
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of crack
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The shape itself is actually extremely complex, which is part of the reason why the problem has proved so hard to crack over the years.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
Sebastian Crossa, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
That means most major awards contenders now launch in the January-to-May time frame — too late for Globes/SAG eligibility and giving Emmy first crack at the freshmen.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Verb
Over time, that narrative cracked—criticized as toxic, exclusionary, and too closely aligned with hustle culture.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The shape itself is actually extremely complex, which is part of the reason why the problem has proved so hard to crack over the years.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
Most leading teams keep an audit trail so regressions don’t slip through the cracks and improvements are visible to all stakeholders.
—Sebastian Crossa, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
That means most major awards contenders now launch in the January-to-May time frame — too late for Globes/SAG eligibility and giving Emmy first crack at the freshmen.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
-
Hey Alexa, create an image of traders popping champagne in the New York Stock Exchange.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The costumes and production design are all Jacques Demy by way of Anthropologie, color-popped to impose personality on the personality-less (and with Bright Eyes and Mitski on the soundtrack to reinforce the indie tweeness).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To avoid choking hazards, the researchers recommend pureeing blueberries for younger infants and mashing or cutting them into small pieces for older babies and toddlers.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
That December, Cilivea Thyrion, 20, choked to death on an adult diaper while housed in a special needs pod.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Now, a team of international astronomers has succeeded in deciphering the gravitational wave signal, GW190412, to determine more about the collision and the resulting event that sent an infant black hole hurtling through space.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
-
As scientists decipher them, there’s one particular feedback loop that has come to dominate the conversation.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Elon Musk had steadily held his spot at the top of the billionaires list for nearly a year straight before Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison briefly knocked him from the throne last week.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Remember, as little as 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
New technology can solve crimes faster, safer, and less expensively than ever before.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
In this case, just adding one molecule at the interface solved a problem that’s been blocking dual-function indoor devices for years.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This takes two seconds, and she doesn’t get bothered at all.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Polarity numbs himself with alcohol and can’t be bothered with God U’s suspicious new Dean, aptly named Cipher (Hamish Linklater).—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The growing fissure became a permanent rift when one day Frazier heard Ali doing a radio interview.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The fraternal fissure is especially painful for those who know the princes, whose mother, Princess Diana, died in August 1997.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Eagles’ defense forced an interception on the next series before another Central turnover led to the knockout blow.—
Matt Roy,
Boston Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Many buyers aren’t likely to immediately face that price tag since carriers typically offer trade-in deals and payment plans to soften the blow.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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