1
2
as in chokes
to yield to mental or emotional stress
after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in deciphers
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in knocks
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
cracked the bow of the ship with a champagne bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in solves
to find an answer for through reasoning
I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in crazes
to cause to go insane or as if insane
cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in fissures
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
a disciplinary crack on the hand with a ruler was once common in schoolrooms
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in claps
a loud explosive sound
the tree fell with a sharp crack
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in eccentrics
a person of odd or whimsical habits
that conspiracy theorist has been labeled a crack by the ballistics experts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cracks
Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Video of Bo Nix‘s rookie season plays on an endless loop — until, at last, someone cracks the code.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
The younger woman cracks her neck side to side.
—Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
If the suspension knuckle cracks the suspension arm may detach.
—James Powel, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
What struck me as beautiful about the scene on the staircase when Peggy breaks down with her mother in the finale is that Peggy finally cracks under the weight of carrying this grief and walking such a tightrope.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
If not, those cracks will have been deepened by neglect.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Apple is now using ceramic shield, instead of glass, for the back, which is four times more resistant to cracks and allows for a thinner profile, which, again, allows room for a bigger battery.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
But cracks begin to appear in Matt’s world when the arrival of enigmatic outsider Eva (Anne Zander) forces him to question his own ‘deaf identity’ and lived experience.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Everyone knows exactly what they are supposed to do, which keeps projects moving and prevents work from slipping through the cracks.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The cosmos is putting a microscope on the situation, so nothing slips through the cracks!
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Bolster or reattach sagging gutters, tighten up screws, and seal any cracks or leaks with gutter sealant.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Tech drove past midfield on five of its first six cracks on offense.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
For example, Harvard barely cracks the top 30.
—Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Video of Bo Nix‘s rookie season plays on an endless loop — until, at last, someone cracks the code.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
The younger woman cracks her neck side to side.
—Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
If the suspension knuckle cracks the suspension arm may detach.
—James Powel, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
What struck me as beautiful about the scene on the staircase when Peggy breaks down with her mother in the finale is that Peggy finally cracks under the weight of carrying this grief and walking such a tightrope.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
But Phillies fans would be positively irate if their team let Schwarber slip through the cracks.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
If not, those cracks will have been deepened by neglect.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Apple is now using ceramic shield, instead of glass, for the back, which is four times more resistant to cracks and allows for a thinner profile, which, again, allows room for a bigger battery.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
But cracks begin to appear in Matt’s world when the arrival of enigmatic outsider Eva (Anne Zander) forces him to question his own ‘deaf identity’ and lived experience.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Everyone knows exactly what they are supposed to do, which keeps projects moving and prevents work from slipping through the cracks.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The cosmos is putting a microscope on the situation, so nothing slips through the cracks!
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Bolster or reattach sagging gutters, tighten up screws, and seal any cracks or leaks with gutter sealant.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Tech drove past midfield on five of its first six cracks on offense.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracks
Verb
-
Flare pops up as a soft white glow, and the lens also shows some purple and green ghosts, depending on the angle and intensity of the backlight.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Mick Jagger pops up and lends a few thoughts.—
Caleb Hammond,
IndieWire,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hybrid-resilient architecture—local backups that can kick in like muscle memory when the cloud chokes.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
On the ground, there’s a war of grappling, chokes, and limb breaks, and Oliveira is one of the best to ever fight it.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
My body no longer deciphers its signals correctly.—
Alaa Alqaisi
August 13,
Literary Hub,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Harrison stabs Prater with the needle and knocks the billionaire out.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
-
When cosmic rays — including, in part, plain old protons from the Sun’s solar wind — strike the Moon, the recoil from those heavy elements knocks them into an excited state.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Formulate a strategy that solves a revenue problem.—
Meghan Keough,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Tune in for short episodes every Wednesday and Saturday as Grumpy answers reader questions, solves seasonal conundrums, and provides need-to-know advice for gardeners with his very Grumpy sense of humor.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Famous for their made-to-order burgers and secret menu hacks, California-based In-N-Out has been flipping patties since 1948, building a devoted fan base that predates social media crazes.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Israel's devastating attack on Gaza, which has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, including over 18,000 children, is exposing deep ideological fissures on the American Right.—
Faisal Kutty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Vegetation also can conceal deep fissures and cracks.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Rodgers took four sacks and three other hits, including multiple heavy blows.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Last March, Mariah The Scientist allegedly came to blows with Young Thug’s former lover, Cleopatra Dues, at an Atlanta lounge.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cracks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracks. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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