Cracking — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb noun verb /ˈkra-kiŋ/ crack·ing

Meaning & Definition of Cracking

Cracking (adjective)

  1. very impressive or effective, great

Cracking (adverb)

  1. very, extremely

Cracking (noun)

  1. a process in which relatively heavy hydrocarbons are broken up by heat into lighter products (such as gasoline)
  2. a form of gerrymandering in which election districts are drawn in such a way that voters likely to support the opposing party are spread among multiple districts to dilute the power of their votes

Cracking (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. of the very best kind

    "a writer renowned for her cracking tales of mystery and suspense"

    similar: A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (chiefly British), boss (slang), brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool (slang), corking, crackerjack, dandy, divine, dope (slang), down (slang), dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous (slang), fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters, gilt-edged, gone (slang), grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype (slang), immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous, mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one, numero uno, out-of-sight (slang), par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat (slang), prime, primo (slang), prize, prizewinning, quality, radical (slang), righteous (slang), sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, top-of-the-line, top-shelf, topflight, topping (chiefly British), unsurpassed, wizard (chiefly British), wonderful, out of this world, too much
    related: acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK, passable, satisfactory, tolerable, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine, classical, standard, traditional
    opposite: atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched
    near: bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Cracking (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to a great degree

    "tells a cracking good tale of a search for a lost city"

    similar: achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone, colossally, corking, damn, damned, dang, deadly, desperately, eminently, enormously, especially, ever, exceedingly, extra, extremely, fabulously, fantastically, far, fiercely, filthy, frightfully, full, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, immensely, incredibly, intensely, jolly, majorly, mightily, mighty, monstrous (chiefly dialect), mortally, most, much, particularly, passing, rattling, real, really, right, roaring, roaringly, seriously, severely, so, sore, sorely, spanking, specially, stinking, such, super, supremely, surpassingly, terribly, that, thumping, too, unco, uncommonly, vastly, very, vitally, way, whacking, wicked, wildly, a lot, as all get-out, good and
    related: absolutely, altogether, completely, downright, entirely, flat-out, fully, positively, purely, radically, thoroughly, totally, utterly, wholly, deeply, profoundly, exceptionally, notably, remarkably, considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially, appreciably, discernibly, markedly, noticeably, obviously, palpably, plainly, visibly, abundantly, plentifully, astronomically, grandly, monstrously, monumentally, excessively, obscenely, overmuch, amazingly, astonishingly, staggeringly
    opposite: little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat
    near: meagerly, scantily, barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely

Cracking (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to break suddenly with an explosive sound

    "the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight"

    similar: popping, snapping
    related: rending, riving, splitting, crackling, hissing, sizzling, sputtering, bursting, exploding, shattering, clacking, clattering, clicking

  2. to yield to mental or emotional stress

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

    similar: breaking down, breaking up, flipping (out) (slang), freaking (out), melting down, wigging (out) (slang), blowing one's cool, falling apart, going off the deep end, going to pieces, losing it
    related: choking

  3. 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"

    similar: breaking, deciphering, decoding, decrypting
    related: descrambling, unscrambling, rendering, translating, doping (out), figuring out, puzzling (out), solving, unraveling, unriddling, working, working out
    opposite: ciphering, coding, enciphering, encoding, encrypting
    near: garbling, jumbling (up), mixing (up)

  4. to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

    "cracked the bow of the ship with a champagne bottle"

    similar: banging, bashing, batting, belting, biffing, bludgeoning, bobbing, bonking, bopping, boxing, busting, clapping, clipping, clobbering, clocking, clouting, hammering, hitting, knocking, nailing, pasting, pounding, punching, rapping, slamming, slapping, slogging, slugging, smacking, smiting, socking, striking, swatting, swiping, tagging, thumping, thwacking, walloping, whacking, whaling, zapping, hanging one on
    related: battering, beating, buffeting, bunging, chopping, cuffing, drubbing, lacing, lambasting, licking, mangling, mauling, pelting, peppering, pommeling, pummeling, roughing, scuffing, bunting, flicking, stroking, tapping, bumping, butting, jabbing, jostling, kicking, kneeing, poking, prodding, pushing, shoving, stamping, bowling (down or over), creaming, decking, dumping (slang), felling, flooring, knocking down, leveling, rabbit-punching, sucker punching, caning, clubbing, cudgeling, flailing, flogging, lashing, sapping, slashing, sledgehammering, sledging, spearing, stabbing, switching, thrashing, whipping, beaning, braining, conking, skulling

  5. to find an answer for through reasoning

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

    similar: answering, breaking, doping (out), figuring out, puzzling (out), resolving, riddling (out), solving, unraveling, unriddling, working, working out
    related: concluding, deciding, deducing, gathering, inferring, judging, reasoning, clearing (up), ironing out, straightening (out), unscrambling, untangling, untying, assuming, conjecturing, divining, guessing, presuming, speculating, deciphering, decoding

  6. to cause to go insane or as if insane

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

    similar: crazing, deranging, frenzying, locoing, maddening, unbalancing, unhinging, unstringing
    related: agitating, bothering, confusing, discomposing, disquieting, distracting, disturbing, perturbing, unsettling, upsetting, annoying, irritating, vexing
    near: calming, quieting, relaxing, settling, soothing, tranquilizing

Related Entry: Crack (verb)

Crack is a different word from Cracking. The synonyms below are for crack, not for cracking.

  1. to break suddenly with an explosive sound

    "the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight"

    similar: pop, snap
    related: rend, rive, split, crackle, hiss, sizzle, sputter, burst, explode, shatter, clack, clatter, click

  2. to yield to mental or emotional stress

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

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

  3. 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"

    similar: break, decipher, decode, decrypt
    related: descramble, unscramble, render, translate, dope (out), figure out, puzzle (out), solve, unravel, unriddle, work, work out
    opposite: cipher, code, encipher, encode, encrypt
    near: garble, jumble (up), mix (up)

  4. to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

    "cracked the bow of the ship with a champagne bottle"

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

  5. to find an answer for through reasoning

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

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

  6. to cause to go insane or as if insane

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

    similar: craze, derange, frenzy, loco, madden, unbalance, unhinge, unstring
    related: agitate, bother, confuse, discompose, disquiet, distract, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, annoy, irritate, vex
    near: calm, quiet, relax, settle, soothe, tranquilize

Related Entry: Crack (on) (verb)

Crack (on) is a different word from Cracking. The synonyms below are for crack (on), not for cracking.

  1. to proceed or move quickly

    "the postman cracked on in an effort to get the mail delivered on time"

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

Related Entry: Cracking up (verb)

Cracking up is a different word from Cracking. The synonyms below are for cracking up, not for cracking.

  1. to declare enthusiastic approval of

    "that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be"

    similar: acclaiming, accrediting, applauding, cheering, hailing, lauding, praising, saluting, touting, doffing one's hat to
    related: bravoing, clapping, rising (to), ballyhooing, approving, commending, endorsing, favoring, recommending, rooting (for), supporting, celebrating, emblazoning, eulogizing, extolling, glorifying, magnifying, singing, adulating, belauding, flattering, overpraising, deifying, idolizing
    opposite: knocking, panning, slamming
    near: belittling, discommending, disparaging, putting down, blaming, censuring, reprehending, reprobating, admonishing, chiding, criticizing, rebuking, reprimanding, reproaching, reproving, castigating, excoriating, keelhauling, lambasting, skewering, slagging (chiefly British), vilifying

  2. to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively

    "the movie is being cracked up as the blockbuster of the summer"

    similar: ballyhooing, blowing up, crying up, glorifying, touting, trumpeting, tub-thumping
    related: acclaiming, applauding, extolling, lauding, magnifying, commending, complimenting, eulogizing, advancing, advertising, announcing, blaring, blazing, blazoning, boosting, heralding, offering, plugging, promoting, publicizing, asserting, averring, claiming, declaring, laying down, making out, proclaiming, pronouncing

  3. 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"

    similar: breaking up, cackling, chortling, chuckling, giggling, hee-hawing, laughing, roaring, screaming, snickering, tittering, twittering, splitting one's sides
    related: grinning, smiling
    near: bawling, blubbering, crying, sobbing, weeping, howling, squalling, wailing, yowling, bleating, puling, whimpering, whining, sniffling, sniveling, groaning, moaning, sighing

Related Entry: Cracking wise (phrase)

Cracking wise is a different word from Cracking. The synonyms below are for cracking wise, not for cracking.

  1. to make jokes

    "She's just cracking wise with the kids."

    similar: bantering, chaffing, fooling, funning, gagging, japing, jesting, jiving, joking, jollying, joshing, kidding, quipping, wisecracking, yukking (slang)
    related: gibing, hazing, jeering, mocking, ragging, rallying, razzing, ribbing, ridiculing, teasing, caricaturing, lampooning, parodying, satirizing, amusing, diverting, entertaining

Related Entry: Get cracking (phrase)

Get cracking is a different word from Cracking. The synonyms below are for get cracking, not for cracking.

  1. to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention

    "It's time to get cracking on these thank-you cards."

    similar: address, apply, bend, buckle, devote, give, get one's act together, get with it, turn one's hand
    related: readdress, reapply, knuckle down, set (to), settle (down), busy, commit, concern, engage, involve, exert, exhaust, put out, spend, strain, stress, tax, trouble, wear out, carry on, pitch in, plunge (in), grind, hump, hustle, peg (away), plod, plow, plug (away), work
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool around, idle, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Related Entry: Got cracking (phrase)

Got cracking is a different word from Cracking. The synonyms below are for got cracking, not for cracking.

  1. to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention

    "It's time to get cracking on these thank-you cards."

    similar: addressed, applied, bent, buckled, devoted, gave, got one's act together, got with it, turned one's hand
    related: readdressed, reapplied, knuckled down, settled (down), set (to), busied, committed, concerned, engaged, involved, exerted, exhausted, put out, spent, strained, stressed, taxed, troubled, wore out, carried on, pitched in, plunged (in), ground, humped, hustled, pegged (away), plodded, plowed, plugged (away), worked
    near: dallied, dawdled, dillydallied, fiddled (around), fooled around, idled, messed around, monkeyed (around), played, pottered (around), puttered (around), trifled

Related Entry: Gets cracking (phrase)

Gets cracking is a different word from Cracking. The synonyms below are for gets cracking, not for cracking.

  1. to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention

    "It's time to get cracking on these thank-you cards."

    similar: addresses, applies, bends, buckles, devotes, gives, gets one's act together, gets with it, turns one's hand
    related: readdresses, reapplies, knuckles down, sets (to), settles (down), busies, commits, concerns, engages, involves, exerts, exhausts, puts out, spends, strains, stresses, taxes, troubles, wears out, carries on, pitches in, plunges (in), grinds, humps, hustles, pegs (away), plods, plows, plugs (away), works
    near: dallies, dawdles, dillydallies, fiddles (around), fools around, idles, messes around, monkeys (around), plays, potters (around), putters (around), trifles

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cracking

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cracking:

Slang: boss, cool, dope, down, fantabulous, gone, hype, out-of-sight, phat, primo, radical, righteous
Chiefly British: bonny, topping, wizard
Chiefly dialect: monstrous
A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, corking, crackerjack, dandy, divine, dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters, gilt-edged, grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cracking

Words with the opposite meaning of Cracking:

atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched, little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat, ciphering, coding, enciphering, encoding, encrypting

Related Words for Cracking

acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK, passable, satisfactory, tolerable, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine, classical, standard, traditional, absolutely, altogether, completely, downright, entirely, flat-out, fully, positively, purely

Near Antonyms of Cracking

bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate, meagerly, scantily, barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely, garbling, jumbling (up), mixing (up), calming, quieting, relaxing, settling, soothing, tranquilizing

Origin & Etymology of Cracking

First known use: 1833

Words & Phrases Containing Cracking

get cracking

Frequently Asked Questions about Cracking

What does "Cracking" mean?

"Cracking" means very impressive or effective, great. As an an adjective, an adverb, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: very impressive or effective, great. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cracking"?

Other words for "Cracking" include A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip and blue-ribbon. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cracking" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cracking"?

There are 426 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cracking". Common alternatives include A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo and bonny.

What is a slang word for "Cracking"?

Slang words for "Cracking" include boss, cool, dope, down, fantabulous and gone.

What is the opposite of "Cracking"?

Antonyms of "Cracking" include atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten and terrible. Near antonyms include bad, inferior, low-grade and substandard.

How do you use "Cracking" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cracking" in a sentence: "a writer renowned for her cracking tales of mystery and suspense"; "tells a cracking good tale of a search for a lost city"; "the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight".

Is "Cracking" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cracking" can be used as an adjective, an adverb, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Cracking"?

"Cracking" is pronounced /ˈkra-kiŋ/ and divided into syllables as crack·ing.