RACKING Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

racking 1 of 2

adjective

as in wrenching

intensely or unbearably painful a racking cough kept him awake all night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

racking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of rack

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

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

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 racking

Verb

Diaz reportedly responded by racking his handgun and firing at Martinez’s feet. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 Opponents of these warehouse-like complexes, which are filled with energy-hungry computer servers, are racking wins. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 6 July 2026 Kelce hasn't done too shabby either, racking in $111 million from NFL contracts alone. — Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 25 June 2026 Six years ago, Donald Milton III, artistic director of the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, was having lunch with the organization’s accompanist, Eric Baumgartner, racking their respective brains about future projects. — Jim Farmer, AJC.com, 10 June 2026 Theories of how the book survived Library Manager Myles Cooper has been racking his brain for an explanation of how the book found its way home. — Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 30 May 2026 Detectives said the witness also told police about a video that had surfaced online that appeared to show Jones going to his vehicle, retrieving an object, and then making a racking motion consistent with using a gun before walking to where the shooting unfolded. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026 Since avian flu turned eggs into a luxury item, pastry chef Annie Clemmons has spent countless hours in her Maryland workshop, racking her brains about how to replace them in her recipes. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026 On the small screen, the influencer Gabriella Carr recently drew her sizable flock to a rejection spreadsheet, where the video creator and actress means to track all her professional door-slams with an eye to racking ’em up. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 4 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for racking

Adjective

Prosecutors plan to seek a two-year extension at an April hearing, and the families of both victims delivered wrenching impact statements in court.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Bono penned a wrenching tribute to Hansard on the day of his death.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrenching

Verb

And in contrast to most brands, Essence Cosmetics and Catrice revealed at the beginning of this year that despite the tariffs plaguing all industries, the company would not be raising prices.

— Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
This is a snapshot of the current WNBA experience—unprecedented growth and great basketball at risk of being swallowed up by the same culture wars plaguing the broader political landscape.

— Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of plaguing

Verb

Why TikTok livestream selling can drive big sales Three forces are pulling sellers toward livestream commerce, and Duplantis’s numbers reflect all of them.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
Wildfire risk is pushing insurers to underwrite hotels based on physical resilience rather than location alone, and carriers are pulling back from some markets entirely.

— Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of pulling

Adjective

Others are stretched across agonizing stretches of silence while Barrett lets an audience stare into the darkness and imagine every horrible possibility before finally springing the trap.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Damage to the remains could complicate evidence The discovery of human remains that set off a firestorm of questions about a possible link to Guthrie developed during an agonizing, monthslong search for the beloved mother.

— Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of agonizing

Verb

That constraint contributes to the housing crises afflicting these seasonal recreation areas.

— Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
Health advocates consider an official definition of ultraprocessed food a key step toward bringing greater scrutiny to meals that are blamed for multiple chronic health problems afflicting Americans.

— Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of afflicting

Verb

Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.

— New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.

— Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026

Definition of persecuting

Adjective

Utilities have raised rates to pay for wildfire prevention and recovery as climate change has made the blazes more intense and frequent.

— Sophie Austin, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Electrolyte beverages can help replenish hydration after an intense workout or stomach bug.

— Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of intense

Browse Nearby Words

rackety

racking

racking up

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Style

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

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Synonyms of racking

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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