1
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
the young man was racked with guilt over the lie he had told to his parents the country has been racked by years of civil war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pulled
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
she racked her brain trying to remember where she'd put the money the sails of the boat were racked by the storm's winds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of racked
The country many will return to is racked by extreme gang violence and has one of the highest homicide rates in the world.
—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
26 June 2026
In 1990, Congress authorized this emergency humanitarian relief for noncitizens whose home countries were racked by armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary disruptions.
—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
Seeing a person react with kindness and not ridicule – that’s radical at a time when American society seems racked with division and social media encourages public criticism and vitriol.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
Either way, our jaws have been adequately dropped, our nerves properly racked, and our nails thoroughly bitten by the end of each episode.
—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
The final decade of the artist’s life was itself marked by its own fraught geopolitics, with the political upheaval and global conflict that racked the world in the 1930s, prior to Klee’s death in 1940.
—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
Police said the sound of a firearm being racked can be heard on the video just before a shot was heard in the dining area.
—
Skyler Shepard,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Sure enough, in a subsequent watch-through-your-fingers climbing scene, a harrowing mishap leaves him dead and Sasha racked with guilt.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
On audio, a pump-action shotgun can be heard being racked.
—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
26 June 2026
In 1990, Congress authorized this emergency humanitarian relief for noncitizens whose home countries were racked by armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary disruptions.
—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
Seeing a person react with kindness and not ridicule – that’s radical at a time when American society seems racked with division and social media encourages public criticism and vitriol.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
Either way, our jaws have been adequately dropped, our nerves properly racked, and our nails thoroughly bitten by the end of each episode.
—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
The final decade of the artist’s life was itself marked by its own fraught geopolitics, with the political upheaval and global conflict that racked the world in the 1930s, prior to Klee’s death in 1940.
—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
Police said the sound of a firearm being racked can be heard on the video just before a shot was heard in the dining area.
—
Skyler Shepard,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Sure enough, in a subsequent watch-through-your-fingers climbing scene, a harrowing mishap leaves him dead and Sasha racked with guilt.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
On audio, a pump-action shotgun can be heard being racked.
—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racked
Verb
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Silva served as Stockton’s mayor from 2013 to 2017, a term that was plagued by scandal.
-
Drafted in the sixth round, Smack is tasked with stabilizing a position that has plagued Green Bay since Mason Crosby's departure.
Verb
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Cape Verde almost pulled the biggest upset in World Cup history.
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Garibay’s one-handed save denied Jonathan Ricketts a sure goal in the 64th minute, and Moon pulled a 30-yard opportunity off a poor corner kick clearance just wide left.
Verb
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Jude, meanwhile, was shifting from tossing cones to tugging at his ears, afflicted with the same malady that had landed several of the toddlers on the room’s version of the injury list.
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They are both afflicted by cognitive and/or hearing issues.
Verb
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The Washington Principles also recognize that many sales of artwork by Jews during the Nazi era occurred while they were being persecuted, or under duress.
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Representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine have been persecuted.
Verb
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Walker was abducted, raped, tortured and murdered after attending a Valentine’s Day dance with her boyfriend.
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The actual abduction was committed, according to the feds, by supermarket owner Abu Chowdhury — who’s accused of heading a kidnapping ring that also snatched and tortured two men who crossed his vengeful wife, Iffat Lubna.
Cite this Entry
“Racked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racked. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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