crack 1 of 3

Definition of cracknext
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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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

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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

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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
Once the wax burns down too low, the remaining heat can overheat and potentially crack the glass container. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 28 May 2026 For him, persistence is the key to cracking the case. Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 28 May 2026
Noun
Crews conducting an overnight operation discovered the crack on the tank, which was alleviating its pressure. Austin Turner, CBS News, 27 May 2026 At the same time, a lot of the region’s industrial infrastructure is aging, which also heightens the risk of leaks, cracks or failure. Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for crack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack
Verb
  • Extra touches include a long row of international power outlets that pop up out of the desk, dental and shaving kits in bathrooms, as well as garment bags to take home in the closet.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Thanks in advance for any insights & perspective that may pop from this and, as always, keep up the awesome work.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Hilton has raised crucial issues about Newsom’s overspending, low state K-12 test scores, high taxes choking the middle class, high gas prices and the endemic housing and homelessness crises.
    John Seiler, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
  • As discomforting as that sounds, there is no proof the 7-foot, 9-inch dolphin choked to death, according to Lauren Rust, executive director of the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network and South Carolina Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Immigration experts who were trying to decipher the news said the memo was more nuanced, leading to confusion over what the change actually entailed.
    Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
  • This season, with a full deck of defensive backs — including rookies Will Lee and Zakee Wheatley — Evero will decipher his best secondary combinations.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • Within Kyiv, five medical facilities and several residential and commercial blocks were damaged or destroyed, sparking fires, burning cars and knocking debris onto a kindergarten, authorities reported.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
  • Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • With Blue Origin’s New Glenn soon to fly its first mission for Amazon, Arianespace’s Ariane 6 on stable footing, and the prospect of more Falcon 9 launches on the horizon, Amazon may have turned a corner in solving its rocket conundrum.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 May 2026
  • Irreverent and misguided, his genius and famous name weigh heavily on him, but using his gift to help solve homicides may — finally — offer his life some direction and purpose.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • This was a club that embraced African players before much of Europe bothered to scout the continent seriously.
    Zohran Mamdani, New York Times, 29 May 2026
  • In my dream world where Emmys voters bother to watch Bait, Khan is a shoo-in.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Seismic images of mid-ocean ridges typically show rough and jagged terrain, formed when lava oozes up into the cold ocean along faults or fissures and hardens suddenly into stone.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
  • These seemingly harmless fissures on the surface of a watermelon can indicate deeper problems that affect both taste and freshness.
    Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 May 2026
Noun
  • To pay for her medical bills, the family had to sell most of their remaining cattle and goats, a bitter blow after years of drought had already decimated local herds.
    Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 31 May 2026
  • This makes for a significant setback but not necessarily a fatal blow to the facility.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Crack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

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