as in excellent
of the very best kind
a writer renowned for her cracking tales of mystery and suspense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in extremely
to a great degree
tells a cracking good tale of a search for a lost city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in knocking
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 solving
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 bothering
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
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
SI.com, 28 Oct. 2019
This is shaping up to be a cracking game at Old Trafford that United will probably edge.
—SI.com, 6 Aug. 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
Adjective
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
This is shaping up to be a cracking game at Old Trafford that United will probably edge.
—SI.com, 6 Aug. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracking
Adjective
-
In a survey of more than 15,000 users after its rollout in 2024, 90% of respondents ranked their experience as excellent or above average.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Scott McKenna bossing the defence, Fabio Silva scoring goals for fun, Oli McBurnie bashing around and suddenly speaking excellent Spanish… this is a cause to believe in.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Sudden hearing loss can be caused by proximity to an extremely loud sound like an explosion.—
Uma Raja,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The present is extremely uninspiring, but the future is … well, maybe not bright, but at least mildly luminous.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Get ready to see more video content popping up in search results.—
William Arruda,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
South Florida healthcare expands into neighborhoods While Doral has seen an explosion of healthcare growth, medical centers, outpatient, urgent care and standalone emergency rooms are also popping up across South Florida as hospitals compete for patients.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Quick thinking by a 9-year-old boy in North Carolina helped save his friend who started choking at recess.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025
-
He was inspired to learn after watching a teacher use the method to help another student who was choking.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Both retail and institutional interest led to holistic industry growth in 2024, driving new use cases and solving for real-world problems.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
-
From generating code to enhancing security, AI tools are enabling developers to focus on solving complex problems while automating routine tasks.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Jan. 2025
-
The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The show will explore the intersection of design, storytelling, and innovation, offering a rare glimpse into how truly great products are made.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
-
But at first, the seizures were a source of great anxiety for our whole family.—
Grace Bastidas,
Parents,
14 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Peters returns for the Manhattan Theatre Club’s fresh, surprising and very special Broadway production, following its run in Los Angeles.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Lennon, meanwhile, brought a very different perspective.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share