crack 1 of 3

1
as in to pop
to break suddenly with an explosive sound the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight

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2
as in to choke
to yield to mental or emotional stress after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession

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3
as in to decipher
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

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4
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6
as in to bother
to cause to go insane or as if insane cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently

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crack

2 of 3

noun

1
as in fissure
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure a pebble struck the car's windshield and left a spidery crack in it

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crack

3 of 3

adjective

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 crack
Verb
And somehow Dave always managed to crack a joke and lift the mood and remind me and himself that joy still exists in the hardest moments. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025 The list focuses on radio play from dance-centric stations and club DJs across the U.S., and the ranking can be very tough to crack, especially for musicians outside the genre. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
Freelance journalist Thomas van Linge posted footage to X, formerly Twitter, showing cracks in the ground following the quake. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025 On particularly cold nights, the ice contracts, opening cracks that fill with lake water, which also freezes. Martin Fackler, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
  • And, now that everything’s changing, what new acquisition targets might pop up at an attractive price down the line?
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Now the Mediterranean-style digs high above Malibu Canyon have popped up for sale, asking a speck under $13 million.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This hazard, hard plastic, and many other physical hazards such as metal and rocks/stones can cause illness or injury to the consumer, including laceration, cuts to the tongue or gum, perforation, occlusion (choking), typically occurring immediately or shortly after consumption.
    John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The average age of first online exposure was 12 years of age and over half of respondents reported having watched pornography showing rape, choking, or pain.
    Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After analyzing his journal, Cordelia was able to decipher the diligent log Wynter kept of each criminal statute and ethical code that Lilly broke while working her role at the White House, which included stealing money and securing shady contracts.
    Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
  • As Saxon and Lochlan try to decipher what happened between them, we are asked to think about why we’re aroused (or repulsed) by it.
    Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The American League East, almost always led in spending by the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, now has another club knocking at the vault door.
    Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • You could be struck by falling debris or knocked to the ground.
    Maya Wei-Haas, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • It had been stated before, that Starfleet ships in the 23rd century didn’t have holodecks, but suddenly here is one — that grid pattern is unmistakable — and the crew seems to be using it to solve a whodunnit, Christie-style.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Even in tools available today, programs that can generate artwork and solve coding problems are among the most popular.
    Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Chicago Bears - Will Campbell, OL, LSU Will Campbell has fallen a bit due to his shorter arm length, but that likely won't bother Ben Johnson.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Because Congress never bothered to write a law to establish it.
    Jay Cost, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The company’s drillers then inject water into the well, prying open the stone fissures and creating an artificial reservoir.
    Alexander C. Kaufman, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
  • President Trump’s endorsement of Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) for Florida governor is revealing fissures among the state’s Republicans in a state that has become the center of the GOP universe.
    Julia Manchester, The Hill, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • That’s a major blow to both sales and long-term customer loyalty.
    Samuel Mueller, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • His ruling, stopping the TPS revocation while the lawsuit plays out in his court, was a blow to the Trump administration.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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