cracked 1 of 2

Definition of crackednext
informal + disparaging

cracked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of crack
1
as in popped
to break suddenly with an explosive sound the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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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
Adjective
Check for cracked or charred wires, as well as burn marks or holes on the blanket, says Evan Jones, representative from Electrical Safety Foundation International. Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026 Dry winter air can leave you with cracked, peeling skin, gritty eyes, and a scratchy throat. Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Then came No Kings 3, and something cracked wide open. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026 Netflix’s horror hit Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen wrapped its eight-episode run with a finale that left viewers reeling — and quietly cracked open a door for more. Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cracked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracked
Adjective
  • Auriemma was also mad that Staley did not participate in the traditional Final Four handshake before the game after the coaches were announced, though Staley had shaken his hand earlier.
    Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
  • How to break the car rental rage cycle Don't get mad.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The gang wars, along with the self-defense groups that have popped up in response, have turned the region into a hotbed of terror for rural farmers.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Protests popped up in all 50 states and even appeared overseas as far as Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The woman told officers during an argument, Dickson pushed her into a dresser, choked her and slammed her head into the wall.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Manning allegedly punched and kicked Hartman in the face and torso, scratched her, choked her and grabbed her by the hair and slammed her against the floor and wall.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, scientists identified the virus, deciphered its secrets, concocted a vaccine, put it into production, and rendered the disease manageable – all within a year.
    David Blumenthal, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Researchers using advanced imaging technology have deciphered 79 previously invisible inscriptions — including love notes, drawings of gladiators, and everyday messages — on a wall in the ancient city of Pompeii, offering a rare window into the lives of ordinary people nearly 2,000 years ago.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Video and witness statements, police said, revealed that Hussain was assaulted in the building’s lobby, struck and knocked to the ground before being forced toward his apartment.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Then in 1998, Buttered Popcorn knocked it from the top spot.
    Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Previously on Mud Lake … Instead, Minnesota solved the problem the same way families name their kids when creativity runs out.
    Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026
  • There is no problem in America that will be solved by fewer impediments to mob rule.
    Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Dogs should not be disturbed while resting, as undisturbed sleep is important for their wellbeing.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
  • In the show's latest season, multiple cast members wonder if the pair are getting back together, with Wilson being notably disturbed when approached by costar Jesse Solomon about possibly kissing Miller if given the chance.
    Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • People with the disorder usually experience a combination of psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorderly behavior.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Among prisoners, 8% had psychotic disorders, compared to less than 1% of the general population, the report said.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Cracked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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