cracked 1 of 2

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
In recent years, several stretches of the aqueduct system have been drained to allow replacement of cracked and bulging sections of century-old concrete. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2023 The urban landscape, with its cracked sidewalks, patchy transit, and the lurking possibility of violence, is a daily challenge. Robert Weisman, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Mar. 2023
Verb
Oscilloscope’s annual CatVideoFest — literally a compilation of online cat videos playing in theaters — has slowly but steadily approached $1 million at the box office and has often cracked the Top 20. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025 Taking on classic buddy-comedy attributes, Sam is the together one with a programmatic path toward life as a wealthy but hollow finance twerp, while Ari is the brash, cracked, less-medicated-than-he-should-be bull in a china shop. Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cracked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracked
Adjective
  • Awards are both mad and lovely.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
  • And of course, mad love and respect to Adam Yauch, Oscilloscope’s co-founder, filmmaker and Beastie Boy forever.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For example, whenever his father-in-law’s name popped up on Adam’s phone, Adam got tense.
    Josh Davis, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The stock popped at the news and was up 7% by Wednesday's close.
    Julie Coleman, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The same jury did, however, convict Chambers of battery and false imprisonment for other prior altercations in which prosecutors said Chambers pushed, grabbed and choked Dadkhah.
    City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The air around the mop sink was choked by 20 flies.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In total, 16 metrics were deciphered to rank each state under these dimensions, such as shares of children, teens and adults with different vaccinations, people without health insurance, and many others.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Those sent on the trip filmed and recorded their upcoming opponents' signs, which Stalions then deciphered.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 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
  • These beams knocked boron atoms out of ultrathin sheets of boron nitride.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The city builders of the 1950s solved their scale problem with steel, glass and concrete.
    Dr. Taha Kass-Hout, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • This could be solved with Valdez's electric stuff and may help prevent another late-season slide next season, as the Mets are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs.
    Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Don’t be disturbed by an authority figure that might suddenly pounce.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
  • There’s a certain freedom not having social media available from your app launcher, knowing you won’t get disturbed on this device, but are still able to sit back with a good book, some light jazz, and… not much else.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Brown's attorneys had said Brown could at times appear psychotic.
    Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Psychologists and psychiatrists are scrambling to better understand how use of chatbots can fuel delusions and drive psychotic episodes.
    Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Cracked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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