1
as in applauded
to declare enthusiastic approval of
that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in announced
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
the movie is being cracked up as the blockbuster of the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in laughed
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
try not to crack up at your own punch lines—it's funnier if you keep a straight face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cracked up
Here, Lauren Houser, vice president of marketing at cleaning solutions company Zep in Atlanta, Georgia, highlights six common hacks that really aren't all they're cracked up to be.
—
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
Leslie Jones once cracked up everyone at Saturday Night Live, including the top dog of the show.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.
—Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Growing up in showbiz isn't all it's cracked up to be, at least according to Shaun Cassidy.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Original castmembers Richard Kline and Priscilla Barnes also cracked up the crowd, reprising their roles as nurse Teri and lovable lech Larry.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
Leslie Jones once cracked up everyone at Saturday Night Live, including the top dog of the show.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.
—Robert Rubsam, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Growing up in showbiz isn't all it's cracked up to be, at least according to Shaun Cassidy.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Original castmembers Richard Kline and Priscilla Barnes also cracked up the crowd, reprising their roles as nurse Teri and lovable lech Larry.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracked up
Verb
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What Makes These Winners Stand Out Some of these Southern gas stations and convenience stores are known for impressive regional in-house foods, including barbecue and biscuits, while others are applauded for offering the cleanest bathrooms, most friendly staff, and good prices.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
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Marshall applauded the strong demand trends currently boosting the cybersecurity industry.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Richins, wearing a white blouse with pale blue and peach-colored flowers on it, looked down and began breathing heavily when the verdict was announced.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
No official release date or plot synopsis has been announced.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When asked if the news was indeed true, Roach laughed.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Fallon, in turn, gave Curtis a deadpan look as the audience laughed.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Peppa Pig’s latest season features a storyline about George’s deaf diagnosis and new hearing aid, a move praised by parents and advocates alike.—
Hannah Silverman,
Parents,
16 Mar. 2026
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Raskin praised Huffman for speaking out for the separation of church and state while showing respect for all religions and without attacking people for their faith.—
Alexei Koseff,
San Francisco Chronicle,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dopamine patches are stick-on, brightly colored patches sold by a variety of online outlets, and advertised as containing natural ingredients, such as mushroom and bean extract, and marketed as a product to boost concentration and increase energy.—
Helena Kudiabor,
SELF,
13 Mar. 2026
-
But his performances this season have been as advertised at the Club World Cup and have scaled new heights since Rosenior’s arrival, netting 11 goals in his last 12 appearances.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Taking a deep breath, the Quantico alum giggled and then, leaning over, plunged her face straight into the ice.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
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Students giggled and gasped in disbelief.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The family tax credit — which has been hailed by advocates for helping to cut childhood poverty in Colorado by more than a third last year, according to recent research — is otherwise on the ropes, a possible casualty of the state’s ongoing budget woes.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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Advocates hailed the interim protection as meaningful, while acknowledging many legal battles ahead in the ongoing immigration fight.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Ross explosion hit close to home for my family because the building that blew up used to be a Market Basket supermarket, where my father worked for years and my mother and I loyally shopped for groceries.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cracked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked%20up. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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