1
as in breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
a crack-up required him to take a year off from work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to praise
to declare enthusiastic approval of
that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of crack-up
Michael Bernick, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Despite the book’s title, Buchanan had some hope for the West (in his us-and-them sense of the term) and was confident in globalism’s impending crack-up.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
The camera cut to O’Leary cracking up in the audience.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack-up
Noun
For job seekers and their families and friends, navigating this white collar crack-up can no longer mean looking to the federal or state government for a new government program, department, or benefit.
—Michael Bernick, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Despite the book’s title, Buchanan had some hope for the West (in his us-and-them sense of the term) and was confident in globalism’s impending crack-up.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
Here, Lauren Houser, vice president of marketing at cleaning solutions company Zep in Atlanta, Georgia, highlights six common hacks that really aren't all they're cracked up to be.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
The camera cut to O’Leary cracking up in the audience.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crack-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack-up
Noun
-
That breakdown was not available in the CRA filings, and the foundation said the final net figures can fall between 8% and 10% of total raffle revenue.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
About Route 66 Extended Warranty Route 66 offers three extended warranty plans to financially help car owners when a mechanical breakdown occurs.—
Anna Popp,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Based on current findings, there is no indication of a mid-air collision.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
Hauser came up limping after a midair collision with Embiid on the final play of the first quarter.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Birds aren’t the only ones who love this design; many reviewers can’t stop praising its functionality and aesthetic.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 May 2026
-
Some of Will and Kate's Instagram followers picked up on the polish, praising the parents for allowing their daughter to buck unspoken traditions that call for muted, demure nails.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
At least the whale wouldn’t be blown up with half a ton of dynamite, like the sperm whale that had beached more than half a century earlier, just 30 miles south of Yachats.—
Robin Romm,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
-
The best reality shows—every Bravo franchise, The Kardashians, Dance Moms—are anthropological studies with campy one-liners, life blown up to exaggerated proportions.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
In a behind-the-scenes shot by Alex Bramall, Princess Charlotte is seen sitting in front of Eugenie, laughing so hard her eyes are squeezed shut.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
-
Godfrey laughed when thinking about that moment.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
William Cruz, 49, of Carteret, NJ, was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian causing injury and failure to exercise due care for the fatal crash that claimed Jenny Maribel Chacho Sanchez on April 17.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The corridor, from Del Paso Boulevard to the Steelhead Creek trail crossing, is among the five in Sacramento with the highest numbers of fatal and serious crashes.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Was any draft decision of this team’s past quarter-century applauded more than Tua Tagovailoa over Justin Herbert?—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The audience laughed and applauded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Because the Eastern Conference is as wide-open as it was advertised at the beginning of the season.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
However, Howdy’s distribution strategy appears to have helped build momentum, as Howdy was initially only available through Roku and heavily advertised to the Roku base of more than 100 million streaming households.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crack-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack-up. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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