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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
On the other end of the spectrum, Tern’s GSD and HSD are significantly shorter and can be stored vertically with their rear rack used as a stand, allowing them to be brought into tighter spaces (though your mileage may vary on apartment living). Chris Cona, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025 Remove focaccia from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
Focusing on Jewish and Palestinian self-determination, respectively, each movie tells a vigorous story of disenfranchisement rooted at once in fact and a particular point of view. October 8 also comes as the headlines continue to be racked with news of the war in Gaza and reaction to it in the U.S. Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025 Despite the nerve racking headlines today, certain advice is timeless and will never change. Jonathan I. Shenkman, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rack
Noun
  • Make sure the beds are at least 1 to 2 feet deep, to keep the roots out of contaminated soil.
    Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Pull yourself away from the outdoor living space and step inside, where the beds are from Tempur-Pedic and one of the bathrooms features an alfresco bathtub.
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Kahle said that includes providing resources to participants for whom sharing experiences of intimate partner violence may cause trauma or mental health distress.
    Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Costa Rican officials have disputed reports by the country’s Ombudsman’s Office that the deportees arrived in Costa Rica in visible distress and that authorities failed to guarantee proper conditions for arriving deportees.
    Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Puerto Rico is frequently plagued by power outages, with the most recent island-wide event on New Year's Eve taking days to resolve.
    Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Now a depth arm in the organization who was called up from triple-A Oklahoma City for a spot start Wednesday, Miller’s first MLB outing of 2025 mirrored the struggles that plagued him over the rest of 2024.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 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
  • Instead, MacFarlane was saying Aaron Friar had been in the living room asleep on the couch and that MacFarlane had crept in armed with a baseball bat.
    Natalie Morales, Richard Fetzer, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Fans would rather see screenshots of your FIFA matches and unflattering angles of you sitting on the couch than the umpteenth brand collaboration or photo shoot.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Perhaps Vrabel values the toughness Hill showed in playing through pain.
    Chad Graff, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Antivirals: Ear pain related to viruses may require antiviral medications.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In a video posted to his Truth Social platform in December 2023, Trump accused the FBI and DOJ of sending undercover spies to churches to persecute people of faith.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The statement concluded with an expression of solidarity with Christians who are persecuted.
    Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The cramped cells are equipped with tiered metal bunks without mattresses, two basins for washing, and two open toilets.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Overnight guests bunk in the house’s dedicated guest suite, which features a private entrance.
    Kristine Hansen, Architectural Digest, 1 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rack. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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