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rack

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rack different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rack are afflict, torment, torture, and try. While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

When would afflict be a good substitute for rack?

Although the words afflict and rack have much in common, afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.

ills that afflict the elderly

When is it sensible to use torment instead of rack?

The meanings of torment and rack largely overlap; however, torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

Where would torture be a reasonable alternative to rack?

The words torture and rack can be used in similar contexts, but torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

When is try a more appropriate choice than rack?

The words try and rack are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

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 rack
Noun
Place a wire rack on top of pan; place one hand on top of rack and other hand under pan with a hot pad and invert pan with rack; cool shortcake. Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2025 Preheat broiler with rack 6 inches from broiler element. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 14 July 2025
Verb
That said, while the touted efficiency effect might seem minimal in the consumer segment, noticeable improvements are likely to occur in systems that employ many modules, such as servers, and rack systems in data centers. Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 27 June 2025 The vast archipelago nations of Indonesia and the Philippines, once racked by internal conflicts, have seen their GDPs grow significantly since 2000. Yuen Foong Khong, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rack
Noun
  • With more than 4,000 five-star reviews and a less than $100 price tag, this bed sheet set is low risk high reward.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 29 July 2025
  • In 1997, Stella McCartney’s debut as the designer of Chloé added to the conversation even further: With delicate spaghetti straps and pastel colors, the nightgowns that appeared on the runway were perhaps the most faithful to what could have really been worn to bed.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • Extreme heat can also be an obstacle to exercising, spending time in nature, and socializing, all of which can make people feel good and also double as important coping mechanisms for emotional distress.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 26 July 2025
  • Phillips hid the pregnancy and acted under extreme emotional distress, citing financial struggles and homelessness at the time, her lawyer said.
    Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • Mohammad Omar had been plagued with medical problems since birth.
    Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou, CNN Money, 22 July 2025
  • That’s the kind of problem that leads to the rodent Rose Parade that’s plagued other restaurants on this street.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.
    Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Feb. 2023
Noun
  • Within a week of her return, the 10-year-old Jack Russell and Patterdale mix seemed stiff and didn't even want to jump on the couch.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
  • But petite shoppers deserve to look put-together and feel comfortable, too—during a long flight, while napping on the couch, running errands, or otherwise.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • Common side effects of Botox include pain and bruising, skin irritation, bleeding, headache and flu symptoms.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The pain persists, shaping countless lives for years to come.
    Graciela Mochkofsky, New Yorker, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • Soliman spent about four years at Cincinnati Children's, first arriving in the United States in 2014 after being persecuted in his native Egypt for work in support of freelance journalists.
    Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 25 July 2025
  • The state government, closely aligned with Virginia’s de facto official Anglican church, persecuted Baptists during the 18th century.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The names of previous detainees were carved onto the mental bunks.
    Juwayriah Wright, Time, 15 July 2025
  • He was told to sit on his bunk for the count, an interminable process that involved tallying every prisoner on the farm, from the men locked down in solitary cells to those wrangling cattle in far‑flung fields.
    Literary Hub July 8, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rack. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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