Definition of crackingnext

cracking

2 of 3

adverb

cracking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of crack
1
as in popping
to break suddenly with an explosive sound the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in choking
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 deciphering
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
5
6

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 cracking
Adjective
The study published in the journal Construction and Building Materials also revealed that the triangular and wavy forms significantly enhanced the beam's ability to handle post-cracking stress. New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2026 Another uninspired performance coupled with a a heavy defeat may well spell the end for the Basque manager at the Emirates, so this fixture should have plenty of undertones and be a cracking game of football. SI.com, 28 Oct. 2019 His fortunes finally turned back Wednesday, when van Garderen laid down a cracking time trial at the Tour of California. sacbee, 16 May 2018
Verb
Sanchies led Taft with 10 kills and was cracking jokes between plays. Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Pearl Jam is cracking open one of the most consequential albums in rock history for a new generation of vinyl collectors. Spin Staff, SPIN, 27 Aug. 2026 Popular and literary myth tells that when martyrs die on the soil, the earth receiving their blood will give forth new fighters, thus the roses scattered on the cracking mud. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 This outer layer absorbs physical stress directly, protecting the delicate internal materials from bending or cracking under load. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026 Another drover rides beside the herd, periodically cracking a bullwhip. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 There’s another fun set piece when, attempting to rappel down from the roof of the hotel, Green and Reacher end up atop a cracking glass ceiling. Chris Klimek, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 In 2020, when every other institution was cracking under the global crisis that shaped my first years of motherhood, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library didn’t crack. Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 The two quickly became friends, spending the next two years cracking jokes at each other’s expense. Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracking
Adjective
  • Alas, this excellent advice goes into one of Joe’s ears and out the other.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Owls are predators whose eyes are positioned on the front of their heads, giving them excellent depth perception.
    Abigail Witmer, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • This pre-seasoned, ¼ inch thick steel heat extremely evenly with minimal disparity between the center and edges.
    Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Search for jet quenching Previous experiments suggest that a millionth of a second after the Big Bang, even as temperatures remained extremely high, matter did not behave like gas but instead like liquid with very low viscosity.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Ogden’s was 25 pounds, Anderson’s fish had an immense girth and weighed an eye-popping 44 pounds.
    Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Despite pleas from his assistants to send out a warning of our arrival, Fertitta is intent on popping in on the crew unawares.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The man in black is wracked and choking, mangling the words, eyes dripping.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, rope toys can cause a choking hazard or even lacerate your dog’s digestive tract.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And navigating a website might involve deciphering images or knowing what links to click.
    Jennifer D. Kobrin, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The prevention of future pandemics relies on information from previous outbreaks, which is one reason why deciphering the origins of the COVID-19 began is important.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And the defense module can neutralize them via electronics-frying HPM emissions, knocking satellites out without creating a cloud of space debris.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For Lynn Parsons, knocking on a stranger’s door once made the difference between getting home and watching her car get towed away.
    Razak Diallo, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • According to the researchers, careful process design and optimization as well as architecture simplification could help in solving most of these issues, something that industrial production focuses on much more than academic researchers.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, the agents had, by collaborating amongst themselves, quickly found a way to manufacture answers to cyber challenges without actually solving the questions in the way ExploitGym’s creators had intended.
    Emily Forlini, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Some interns hesitate to contact their former colleagues for fear of bothering them, but most people are eager to help out young talent.
    Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Contreras rarely takes days off but asked for a day off Sunday with his leg bothering him.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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