1
as in breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
a crack-up required him to take a year off from work
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collision
the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact
two people were injured in a serious crack-up on the interstate
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1
as in to praise
to declare enthusiastic approval of
that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be
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2
as in to blow up
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
the movie is being cracked up as the blockbuster of the summer
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3
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
try not to crack up at your own punch lines—it's funnier if you keep a straight face
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of crack-up
Emily Tamkin, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2023
The movie tracks Carl’s descent, his crack-up, and his slow waking up to reality.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Apr. 2023
The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
What was supposed to be a heartwarming moment between siblings turned into a hilarious brotherly love moment that had all of J.J.’s CBS co-workers cracking up.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crack-up 
Noun
Despite their differences on policy, there is little reason to expect a crack-up between the Hungarian and American right in the near future.
—Emily Tamkin, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2023
The movie tracks Carl’s descent, his crack-up, and his slow waking up to reality.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Apr. 2023
Verb
Creation Lake is a raw, surprising reminder that cool isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
What was supposed to be a heartwarming moment between siblings turned into a hilarious brotherly love moment that had all of J.J.’s CBS co-workers cracking up.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crack-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack-up
Noun
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As the first transfer portal window has wrapped – although exceptions are always possible – here’s a full breakdown of the movement in USC’s secondary entering spring, the last in a six-part series examining the post-portal scholarship outlook for every part of the roster.Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 15 Jan. 2025
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As a reminder of how this works, here is the breakdown of the first month of the season and here is last month’s analysis.James Mirtle, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In October, the NHTSA opened an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) software after four collisions were reported, including a fatal 2023 crash.Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
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Miraculously, only one member of the Hooligan Navy was killed while serving, during a collision with a Dutch freighter.David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But while law enforcement praises corporations for handing over driver data, others are concerned that most of the information collected could be violating people’s privacy.Chris Isidore, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
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The conversation between the three actresses then shifted to Shields' praising Swift for discussing body image and the pressure to look perfect during her 2020 documentary, Miss Americana.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Baltic pipeline was blown up in an act of sabotage, but details of the attack remain murky.Hanna Arhirova and Joanna Kozlowska, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
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Even when he’s blown up at every spot, he’s maintained himself.Christopher Kamrani, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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That shared experience of laughing together helps both of us find relaxation.Amanda Schupak, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2025
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Others immediately call their sisters, leaving the girls—and TikTok audiences—laughing.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Chiefs looked out of sorts and part of that can be attributed to the car crash involving Britt Reid, who was a Chiefs assistant at the time, just days before the game.Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2025
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The Herald’s investigation also revealed the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state agency that investigated the crash, early on ruled out alcohol as a factor in the accident.Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Kotb and her colleagues applauded when the song finished, with Kotb thanking Kermit at its conclusion.Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 10 Jan. 2025
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Others applauded Kris and James Armstrong’s selflessness in light of such sudden challenges.Susan Young, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Beginning in 1992, the Ontological-Hysteric occupied an upper chamber of the beautiful St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, and Foreman advertised his yearly shows there with blizzards of black-and-white posters, which were wheat-pasted all over the Village every winter.Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2025
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Sometimes, synthetic identities are advertised as ways in which someone can rebuild their credit by paying just a few hundred dollars.Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near crack-up
Cite this Entry
“Crack-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack-up. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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