Synonyms of crack

crack 1 of 3

verb

ˈkrak 

1

as in to pop

to break suddenly with an explosive sound

the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pop
• snap
• split
• explode
• crackle
• shatter
• burst
• rend
• hiss
• click
• sputter
• rive
• clatter
• sizzle
• clack

2

as in to choke

to yield to mental or emotional stress

after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession

Synonyms & Similar Words

• choke
• fall apart
• lose it
• melt down
• break down
• flip (out)
• go to pieces
• break up
• wig (out)
• go off the deep end
• freak (out)
• blow one's cool

3

as in to decipher

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

• decipher
• break
• decrypt
• decode
• solve
• translate
• render
• unscramble
• unravel
• work
• figure out
• work out
• descramble
• puzzle (out)
• dope (out)
• unriddle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• code
• cipher
• encode
• encrypt
• mix (up)
• encipher
• garble
• jumble (up)

4

as in to knock

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

• knock
• hit
• smack
• slap
• bang
• punch
• slam
• clap
• whack
• strike
• clip
• pound
• swipe
• bat
• kick
• box
• nail
• thump
• hammer
• lick
• bash
• rap
• poke
• tap
• clock
• push
• bust
• shove
• slug
• zap
• swat
• clout
• bludgeon
• chop
• tag
• paste
• bop
• belt
• thwack
• stab
• sock
• smite
• bonk
• bump
• bob
• flick
• clobber
• jab
• wallop
• slog
• stroke
• whale
• rough
• beat
• biff
• hang one on
• pummel
• whip
• maul
• pepper
• scuff
• butt
• batter
• bung
• slash
• cuff
• knee
• pelt
• mangle
• stamp
• drub
• lash
• deck
• fell
• dump
• jostle
• cream
• floor
• buffet
• lambast
• lambaste
• brain
• lace
• pommel
• skull
• bunt
• club
• knock down
• prod
• cane
• bean
• level
• sap
• switch
• conk
• spear
• bowl (down or over)
• cudgel
• sledgehammer
• flail
• sledge
• flog
• sucker punch
• thrash
• rabbit-punch

5

as in to solve

to find an answer for through reasoning

I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• solve
• unravel
• answer
• resolve
• work
• figure out
• break
• work out
• decipher
• conclude
• decide
• unriddle
• dope (out)
• puzzle (out)
• deduce
• gather
• riddle (out)
• infer
• guess
• judge
• reason
• straighten (out)
• assume
• speculate
• presume
• divine
• iron out
• unscramble
• clear (up)
• conjecture
• untie
• decode
• untangle

6

as in to bother

to cause to go insane or as if insane

cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• frenzy
• disturb
• unbalance
• unhinge
• craze
• distract
• annoy
• upset
• confuse
• unsettle
• madden
• derange
• unstring
• loco
• irritate
• perturb
• agitate
• disquiet
• vex
• discompose

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settle
• relax
• soothe
• calm
• quiet
• tranquilize
• tranquillize

crack

2 of 3

noun

1

as in fissure

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

• fissure
• crevice
• rift
• split
• cleft
• fracture
• gap
• check
• chink
• cranny
• rupture
• opening
• crevasse
• craze
• slit
• breach
• hairline
• cut
• incision
• gash

2

as in blow

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

• blow
• knock
• thump
• slap
• hit
• thud
• punch
• whack
• swipe
• stroke
• pound
• smack
• lick
• poke
• bang
• beat
• spank
• slam
• clip
• clap
• hook
• hack
• smash
• kick
• chop
• switch
• lash
• rap
• bust
• bat
• belt
• swat
• sock
• box
• cuff
• pelt
• stripe
• slug
• pick
• bash
• bop
• wham
• knee
• thwack
• plump
• pounding
• dab
• clout
• biff
• welt
• buffet
• fillip
• stinger
• licking
• wallop
• beating
• douse
• whop
• haymaker
• swing
• whap
• hand
• whip
• larrup
• counter
• left
• right
• hammering
• shiver
• counterblow
• body blow
• sucker punch
• counterstroke
• whipping
• one-two
• battering
• roundhouse
• cruncher
• thrashing
• uppercut
• pummeling
• knockdown
• rabbit punch
• counterpunch
• knockout
• pasting
• sidewinder
• flogging
• KO
• cudgelling
• drubbing
• walloping
• pummelling
• bastinado
• bludgeoning
• cudgeling
• right-hander
• clobbering
• bastinade
• kayo
• lambasting

3

as in bang

a loud explosive sound

the tree fell with a sharp crack

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bang
• clap
• boom
• pop
• blast
• crash
• slam
• whack
• thunderclap
• knock
• smash
• roar
• report
• snap
• thwack
• tap
• whump
• whomp
• thunk
• howl
• clash
• clank
• rap
• clang
• wham
• clangor
• clamor
• hue and cry
• outcry
• blare
• hubbub
• tumult
• hullabaloo
• uproar

4

as in attempt

an effort to do or accomplish something

this is my first crack at painting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attempt
• try
• stab
• go
• shot
• pass
• bid
• endeavor
• offer
• trial
• whack
• essay
• bash
• fling
• assay
• struggle
• whirl
• undertaking
• striving
• throes
• trial and error

5

as in joke

something said or done to cause laughter

a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• joke
• laugh
• joking
• giggle
• gag
• rib
• wisecrack
• scream
• witticism
• yak
• one-liner
• jape
• sally
• funny
• quip
• yuck
• boffo
• yock
• boff
• drollery
• prank
• josh
• pleasantry
• waggery
• yuk
• jest
• riot
• nifty
• parody
• trick
• practical joke
• funning
• caper
• wisecracking
• humorousness
• panic
• kidding
• riff
• boffola
• humor
• mock
• comedy
• buffoonery
• banter
• leg-pull
• lampoon
• mockery
• antic
• knee-slapper
• burlesque
• raillery
• repartee
• caricature
• put-on
• persiflage
• thigh-slapper
• funniness
• wordplay
• wit
• drollness
• facetiousness
• hilariousness
• monkeyshine(s)

6

as in eccentric

a person of odd or whimsical habits

that conspiracy theorist has been labeled a crack by the ballistics experts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• eccentric
• character
• flake
• nut
• crank
• piece of work
• original
• screwball
• crackpot
• quiz
• weirdo
• freak
• fruitcake
• head case
• rarity
• kook
• codger
• oddball
• odd duck
• maverick
• crackbrain
• nutter
• nutcase
• oddity
• zany
• bohemian
• geezer
• coot
• nonconformist
• curio
• quixote
• fantast
• fantastico

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sheep
• follower
• conformer
• conformist

crack

3 of 3

adjective

as in skilled

having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor

known as one of the college's crack tennis players

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skilled
• adept
• skillful
• expert
• experienced
• proficient
• good
• great
• complete
• practiced
• ace
• master
• talented
• virtuoso
• educated
• crackerjack
• gifted
• veteran
• practised
• accomplished
• masterful
• consummate
• capable
• professed
• masterly
• versed
• compleat
• employable
• trained
• able
• clever
• polished
• slick
• competent
• old
• effective
• handy
• qualified
• efficient
• fit
• adroit
• deft
• fitted
• taught
• dexterous
• dextrous
• effectual
• all-round
• refined
• schooled
• knowledgeable
• long-term
• workmanlike
• well-rounded
• all-around
• sure-handed
• multiskilled
• tutored
• habile
• multitalented

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weak
• unable
• inexperienced
• incapable
• amateur
• unskilled
• incompetent
• unfit
• inexpert
• amateurish
• unqualified
• unseasoned
• crude
• inept
• unprofessional
• unfitted
• ineffective
• unskillful
• new
• rude
• artless
• beginning
• inefficient
• ineffectual
• would-be
• jackleg
• green
• ignorant
• raw
• rough
• untrained
• inexperienced
• untalented
• untested
• untutored
• untaught
• primitive
• unschooled
• untried
• unseasoned
• unpolished
• awkward
• clumsy
• talentless
• ungifted
• heavy-handed
• ham-fisted
• ham-handed

Examples of crack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

By adding bits, cracking encryption becomes exponentially more difficult – in this case, 50-bits to 2048-bit is 2^1998 times more difficult to crack. —Joe Salas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2024

During the high-profile Al Smith Dinner — an election year tradition in New York City to raise money for Catholic charities and roast political candidates — comedian and dinner host Jim Gaffigan began cracking jokes about Donald, 78, as the former president and Melania, 54, sat just feet away. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Noun

Belarus has long been accused of encouraging migrants to reach the Polish border, at the behest of its ally Russia, in the hopes of exposing cracks in the EU’s border-free principles and common asylum system. —Rob Picheta, CNN, 20 Oct. 2024

Recommended Innovation Slow and small, drones find cracks in Israel’s high-tech air defenses The White House has asked Congress for an extra $4 billion for FEMA to respond to tornadoes and wildfires and rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. —Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing crack

• crack (on)
• crack down (on)
• crack up
• crack wise