as in mad
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
Are you completely cracked?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in choked
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 deciphered
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 knocked
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 solved
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 disturbed
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
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 cracked
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The leather on the shoes appears to be slightly decayed, worn, cracked and brittle, while the laces and midsole are stained, giving a distressed, lived-in effect.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
For generations, Americans who wanted orange juice without the work of squeezing fresh fruit cracked open a can and watched a cylinder of frozen juice go ker-plunk into a pitcher.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cracked
Adjective
Besides being dangerous, downloading cracked software also poses legal risks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The leather on the shoes appears to be slightly decayed, worn, cracked and brittle, while the laces and midsole are stained, giving a distressed, lived-in effect.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
The walkway is cracked and the color of (somewhat) pink Peeps.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
For generations, Americans who wanted orange juice without the work of squeezing fresh fruit cracked open a can and watched a cylinder of frozen juice go ker-plunk into a pitcher.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cracked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracked
Adjective
-
The Department of Homeland Security is slinging money around like mad.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Bugatti is marking the 20th birthday of its extraordinary Veyron with a special-edition hypercar that pays tribute to the 'mad genius' who designed it, Ferdinand Karl Piëch.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The tense conversation continued for several minutes before a peculiar discrepancy popped up.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Cardi, who popped up for a quick cameo during Bad Bunny's Halftime Show and is about to embark on her Little Miss Drama tour, was in the Bay Area to celebrate the big game and attended a Fanatics pre-party looking like a 2000s emo girl-gone-2026.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Three years after the incident involving Cordell, a prisoner claimed he was assaulted, choked and Tazed by Hadder while on day release for a family reunion at a Waffle House.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Kenya choked under the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi, who ruled from 1978 to 2002.—
Binaifer Nowrojee,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The sun dances to its own (currently less-than-deciphered) rhythms, moving through an 11-year-long cycle.—
Sarah Scoles,
Scientific American,
10 Dec. 2025
-
At first this voice from the heavens has seemingly sent a benign message but it’s quickly deciphered to be a DNA cocktail for Earthlings to investigate.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Coarse stones with large crystals chip and fracture easily when knocked together.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In the letter to Demacopoulos, the family said Gutiérrez told a friend that her boyfriend punched her and knocked one out.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Businesses that solved real problems for customers willing to pay.—
Judah Taub,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The murder of the vlogger Gabby Petito, for example, was solved with the help of social-media users who, following the case from afar, found the crucial clues.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The study was conducted in a lab, where participants had never slept before, which could have also disturbed their sleep.—
Kaan Ozcan,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
-
If the dirt is disturbed the next day, the den is occupied.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While Hadari is rebranding as YH Studios, his creative voice remains unchanged, clearly influenced by Browne in his fusion of the sartorial with the slightly psychotic.—
Ari Stark,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
At a house party full of caviar, one of the women, while immersed in a motherhood quandary, asks another if there’s something psychotic and untoward in her devouring piles of tiny eggs.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cracked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
