racking 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of rackingnext
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful a racking cough kept him awake all night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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racking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of rack
1
as in plaguing
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pulling
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for racking
  1. pulling
  2. afflicting
  3. agonizing
  4. torturous
  5. intense
  6. attacking
Verb
  • When the night’s at its blackest, this is for those who are holding the light, guiding the lost and pulling us through.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2024
  • As for the ocean capacity limitations assisting in the growth of air bookings, cargo-carrying vessels throughout the late summer cramped up amid a flurry of factors including the ongoing avoidance of the Red Sea, ensuing port congestion and a pulling forward of the peak shipping season.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of pulling
Verb
  • Whatever's afflicting you out there, in here the coffee is always hot, the fries are always crispy and the ranch dip is always free.
    Tyler Buchanan, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
  • Something is genuinely off about the goings-on at the conference, from strange deaths and elevators that suddenly aren’t elevators, to a rash of scabby infections afflicting guests and the discovery of a subterranean tunnel.
    Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
Definition of afflicting
Adjective
  • She would later be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and over the next long, agonizing decade, this loving, kind person became angry and suspicious, often lashing out at family members.
    Jessie Van Amburg, SELF, 25 Nov. 2024
  • That led him to the agonizing conclusion that season-ending surgery was the best route for a young career with plenty of future upside.
    Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of agonizing
Adjective
  • According to the political scientist Pierre Englebert, the Congolese government and people lose as much as $4 billion in revenue every year due to state agents’ manipulation of mining contracts and payments, torturous budget practices, and outright theft.
    Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2015
  • The right boots, however, can make previously torturous bell-to-bell days no big deal.
    Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024
Definition of torturous
Adjective
  • Extended hours of daylight can increase sun exposure—even if the sun doesn’t feel intense.
    David Nikel, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
  • Scorpio signs are best known to be intense and passionate, but also one of the more misunderstood signs.
    Athena Sobhan, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024
Definition of intense
Verb
  • Some of the Israeli fans added to the tensions, Holla said, by attacking a taxi Wednesday as well as a Palestinian flag.
    Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • The new boss quickly set about completely overhauling the team and their approach, instilling an aggressive, attacking mindset which had been sorely lacking in previous seasons.
    Adam Digby, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Definition of attacking
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near racking

rackety

racking

racking up

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Racking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racking. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on racking

Nglish: Translation of racking for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of racking for Arabic Speakers

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