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 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
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
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 29 July 2025
The seashell with the fortuitous hole that allowed it to be strung around your neck would crack; the thin chain bracelets wrapped around your ankle always got lost in the dunes.
—Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 29 July 2025
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2025
After the four friends heard a large crack from the trees, a bunch of small branches fell to the ground—and one big branch struck Angela.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Verb
The cheekily coined Cadieux e Pepe, a nod to Detroit’s Cadieux Road, reimagines cacio e pepe in pizza form—chewy dough crowned with sharp Parmesan, pungent fresh garlic, and cracked black pepper.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 29 July 2025
The seashell with the fortuitous hole that allowed it to be strung around your neck would crack; the thin chain bracelets wrapped around your ankle always got lost in the dunes.
—Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 29 July 2025
Noun
In the process, gaps and cracks in the property are filled up and back covers are built.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2025
After the four friends heard a large crack from the trees, a bunch of small branches fell to the ground—and one big branch struck Angela.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
-
The precocious musician began studying classical piano at the age of 7 and later pivoted to pop music.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
28 July 2025
-
What does pop culture icon and entrepreneur Kylie Jenner and experimental British artist Helen Marten have in common?—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
The District Attorney’s Office also said that in the year before her death, Brendan Doyle choked his mother in order to force her to write him two checks totaling $1,000.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 July 2025
-
Trying to dislodge it, the rostrum punched through the gills, impaling the animal, dragging it down and slowly choking it to death.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Verb
-
Often when playing against Macdonald’s defense, which is tricky to decipher because of all the post-snap rotations and disguised pressures, the right play is to check it down to a running back or tight end, take 3 or 4 yards and move to the next play.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
27 July 2025
-
Obtaining laboratory research experience in Miami impressed on me the power of science to decipher the mechanisms of life and improve human health.—
Seth Tomchik,
Sun Sentinel,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Instead, Sue goes all Mama Bear and uses her powers to knock him into the teleporter and then Silver Surfer has a change of heart and knocks him back in when Galactus tries to get out.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
-
In between, there was Chad Pennington (wrist), Mark Sanchez (shoulder), Geno Smith (jaw) and Zach Wilson (knee) suffering injuries in the preseason that knocked them out for regular-season games.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Bitcoin solved the double‑spending problem with a global ledger that is independently verified by all nodes on the network.—
Dave Birnbaum,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
-
Homicide detectives race against the clock, knowing their best chance to solve a murder is within the first two days!—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
31 July 2025
Verb
-
But one aspect of his robberies bothers him to this day.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
26 July 2025
-
This means that some people might not bother using them.—
Ben Coxworth
July 26,
New Atlas,
26 July 2025
Noun
-
Winning tends to mask or mend fissures in any group, of course.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 July 2025
-
And the fissure over Jeffrey Epstein disclosures has exposed a slip in Trump’s grip on the GOP.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
For a country like Italy, which prioritizes value for money, this is a devastating blow.—
Elisabetta Tosi,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
-
People threw punches, kicked and jeered as a man on the ground tried to fend off the blows and a woman tumbled to the concrete, bloody and disoriented.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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