cracking
1 of 3adjective
crack·ing ˈkra-kiŋ 
: very impressive or effective : great
cracking
2 of 3adverb
: very, extremely
a cracking good book
cracking
3 of 3noun
1
: a process in which relatively heavy hydrocarbons are broken up by heat into lighter products (such as gasoline)
2
US politics : 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
Using the classic gerrymandering technique, cracking, they divided Salt Lake City (a Democrat stronghold) among three districts to drown out its Democratic voters with neighboring heavily Republican turf.
Justin F. Thulin
compare packing sense 3 Justin F. Thulin
Synonyms
Adjective
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- blue-ribbon
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- 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
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- 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
Adverb
- achingly
- almighty
- archly
- awful
- awfully
- badly
- beastly
- blisteringly
- bone
- colossally
- corking
- damn
- damned
- dang
- deadly
- desperately
- eminently
- enormously
- especially
- ever
- exceedingly
- exceeding
- 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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective I think it's a cracking story. a writer renowned for her cracking tales of mystery and suspense Adverb tells a cracking good tale of a search for a lost city
Recent Examples on the Web Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 1 Jan. 2022 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 The National Flood Insurance Program, a vital but cracking foundation for homeowners and businesses alike in south Louisiana, expires in one month. Drew Broach, NOLA.com, 31 May 2018 His fortunes finally turned back Wednesday, when van Garderen laid down a cracking time trial at the Tour of California. sacbee, 16 May 2018 This is shaping up to be a cracking game at Old Trafford that United will probably edge. SI.com, 6 Aug. 2019 The National Flood Insurance Program, a vital but cracking foundation for homeowners and businesses alike in south Louisiana, expires in one month. Drew Broach, NOLA.com, 31 May 2018 His fortunes finally turned back Wednesday, when van Garderen laid down a cracking time trial at the Tour of California. sacbee, 16 May 2018 Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Aug. 2022 Standard Oil began using the property in 1863 for crude oil distillation, reforming, cracking, alkylation, coking and asphalt production. Kaitlin Durbin, cleveland, 17 Aug. 2022 And yet the promise of such help has been upended by the recent discovery of stress-corrosion cracking in pipes located in the critical cooling systems of numerous French nuclear units. Daniel Ford, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2022 Lepiarz then segued into a seriously impressive performance, talking viewers through the art of whip-cracking, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2022 The problems, including cracking of walls and dropping of floors, were discovered by staff members a little over two weeks ago, said Zack Klug, the interim principal. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 18 July 2022 No one knows exactly what caused the stone to crack, but the cold winter months could have contributed to the cracking, said Nick Kapur, an associate professor of history at Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey. Megan Marples, CNN, 31 Mar. 2022 But the interior looks to be in very reasonable shape for a nearly 20-year-old car, although the black leather seats features quite a bit of cracking and even one tear in the driver's-seat bolster. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 28 June 2022 In a large cracking sound heard over the river's roar, the house tipped into the waters and was pulled into the current. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 15 June 2022 See More
Adjective
This would be a disaster in modern concrete, producing micro-cracking and serious deterioration of the structure. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 1 Jan. 2022 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 The National Flood Insurance Program, a vital but cracking foundation for homeowners and businesses alike in south Louisiana, expires in one month. Drew Broach, NOLA.com, 31 May 2018 His fortunes finally turned back Wednesday, when van Garderen laid down a cracking time trial at the Tour of California. sacbee, 16 May 2018 This is shaping up to be a cracking game at Old Trafford that United will probably edge. SI.com, 6 Aug. 2019 The National Flood Insurance Program, a vital but cracking foundation for homeowners and businesses alike in south Louisiana, expires in one month. Drew Broach, NOLA.com, 31 May 2018 His fortunes finally turned back Wednesday, when van Garderen laid down a cracking time trial at the Tour of California. sacbee, 16 May 2018 Noun
Being submerged for all those decades hasn't been good for the porous granite stones, some of which show signs of erosion and cracking, while others have fallen over. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Aug. 2022 Standard Oil began using the property in 1863 for crude oil distillation, reforming, cracking, alkylation, coking and asphalt production. Kaitlin Durbin, cleveland, 17 Aug. 2022 And yet the promise of such help has been upended by the recent discovery of stress-corrosion cracking in pipes located in the critical cooling systems of numerous French nuclear units. Daniel Ford, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2022 Lepiarz then segued into a seriously impressive performance, talking viewers through the art of whip-cracking, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2022 The problems, including cracking of walls and dropping of floors, were discovered by staff members a little over two weeks ago, said Zack Klug, the interim principal. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 18 July 2022 No one knows exactly what caused the stone to crack, but the cold winter months could have contributed to the cracking, said Nick Kapur, an associate professor of history at Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey. Megan Marples, CNN, 31 Mar. 2022 But the interior looks to be in very reasonable shape for a nearly 20-year-old car, although the black leather seats features quite a bit of cracking and even one tear in the driver's-seat bolster. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 28 June 2022 In a large cracking sound heard over the river's roar, the house tipped into the waters and was pulled into the current. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 15 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1830, in the meaning defined above
Adverb
1903, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing cracking
cracking 1 of 3
adjective
as in excellent
of the very best kind a writer renowned for her cracking tales of mystery and suspense Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- excellent
- great
- terrific
- superb
- wonderful
- stellar
- fantastic
- awesome
- lovely
- beautiful
- fabulous
- fine
- prime
- hot
- marvelous
- quality
- cool
- top
- swell
- topping
- slick
- famous
- classic
- bumper
- neat
- marvellous
- sensational
- brave
- corking
- sterling
- prize
- good
- heavenly
- choice
- splendid
- dynamite
- fab
- divine
- crackerjack
- superior
- grand
- immense
- par excellence
- banner
- keen
- down
- unsurpassed
- dope
- exceptional
- capital
- brag
- superlative
- groovy
- gone
- peachy
- gangbusters
- bully
- prizewinning
- boss
- mean
- decent
- number one
- frontline
- nifty
- radical
- dandy
- gangbuster
- too much
- topflight
- wizard
- noble
- tip-top
- primo
- boffo
- bang-up
- hype
- better
- bonny
- first-rate
- supernal
- numero uno
- top-notch
- peachy keen
- fantabulous
- satisfactory
- phat
- high-class
- special
- first-class
- righteous
- adequate
- acceptable
- out-of-sight
- out of this world
- gilt-edge
- top-shelf
- A-OK
- blue-ribbon
- all right
- bonnie
- blue-chip
- first-string
- top-of-the-line
- gilt-edged
- five-star
- tolerable
- traditional
- passable
- premium
- jim-dandy
- classical
- fancy
- A1
- four-star
- select
- superfine
- okay
- No. 1
- standard
- high-grade
- OK
- high-test
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- poor
- rotten
- terrible
- awful
- pathetic
- atrocious
- lousy
- bad
- wretched
- vile
- execrable
- inferior
- substandard
- unsatisfactory
- mediocre
- middling
- low-grade
- second-rate
- second-class
cracking
2 of 3adverb
as in extremely
to a great degree tells a cracking good tale of a search for a lost city Synonyms & Similar Words
- extremely
- damn
- damned
- very
- incredibly
- terribly
- too
- highly
- badly
- jolly
- that
- seriously
- so
- severely
- really
- real
- full
- desperately
- super
- rattling
- whacking
- thumping
- far
- especially
- passing
- exceeding
- roaring
- wildly
- bone
- greatly
- heavily
- most
- mighty
- way
- intensely
- such
- much
- awful
- good and
- dang
- stinking
- corking
- exceptionally
- spanking
- fiercely
- particularly
- wicked
- extra
- specially
- sore
- fantastically
- absolutely
- filthy
- a lot
- deadly
- awfully
- exceedingly
- immensely
- fabulously
- totally
- hugely
- almighty
- uncommonly
- monstrous
- achingly
- thoroughly
- completely
- remarkably
- supremely
- roaringly
- frightfully
- eminently
- vitally
- utterly
- enormously
- unco
- mortally
- beastly
- sorely
- ever
- positively
- blisteringly
- surpassingly
- archly
- majorly
- as all get-out
- right
- deeply
- visibly
- vastly
- mightily
- significantly
- entirely
- noticeably
- considerably
- downright
- colossally
- fully
- wholly
- substantially
- obviously
- notably
- radically
- purely
- profoundly
- extensively
- flat-out
- markedly
- palpably
- discernibly
- appreciably
- altogether
- plainly
- excessively
- monumentally
- obscenely
- astronomically
- plentifully
- astonishingly
- grandly
- monstrously
- amazingly
- abundantly
- staggeringly
- overmuch
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- little
- slightly
- somewhat
- nominally
- just
- barely
- negligibly
- hardly
- scarcely
- marginally
- minimally
- scantily
- meagerly
cracking
3 of 3verb
1
as in popping
to break suddenly with an explosive sound the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight Synonyms & Similar Words
- popping
- snapping
- splitting
- crackling
- shattering
- exploding
- bursting
- hissing
- rending
- sputtering
- clicking
- clattering
- sizzling
- clacking
- riving
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
- choking
- melting down
- losing it
- falling apart
- wigging (out)
- breaking down
- breaking up
- flipping (out)
- going off the deep end
- blowing one's cool
- going to pieces
- freaking (out)
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
- deciphering
- breaking
- decoding
- decrypting
- solving
- translating
- rendering
- unraveling
- working
- descrambling
- unscrambling
- figuring out
- working out
- unriddling
- doping (out)
- puzzling (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- coding
- encoding
- ciphering
- encrypting
- enciphering
- mixing (up)
- garbling
- jumbling (up)
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
- knocking
- smacking
- slapping
- banging
- hitting
- slamming
- punching
- whacking
- pounding
- clapping
- striking
- clipping
- swiping
- hammering
- thumping
- kicking
- nailing
- tapping
- bashing
- batting
- busting
- poking
- licking
- pushing
- chopping
- rapping
- bumping
- jabbing
- flicking
- shoving
- biffing
- clobbering
- slugging
- zapping
- bopping
- bludgeoning
- bobbing
- bonking
- thwacking
- socking
- swatting
- smiting
- belting
- clocking
- tagging
- pasting
- stabbing
- boxing
- clouting
- beating
- slogging
- walloping
- scuffing
- stroking
- battering
- stamping
- pummeling
- whaling
- mangling
- peppering
- mauling
- whipping
- slashing
- cuffing
- lashing
- pelting
- jostling
- pummelling
- bunging
- dumping
- buffeting
- hanging one on
- butting
- prodding
- roughing
- decking
- drubbing
- lambasting
- thrashing
- flogging
- switching
- pommelling
- sapping
- creaming
- felling
- bunting
- sledgehammering
- lacing
- flooring
- pommeling
- clubbing
- flailing
- spearing
- conking
- sucker punching
- leveling
- skulling
- knocking down
- caning
- kneeing
- sledging
- cudgelling
- levelling
- cudgeling
- braining
- rabbit-punching
- beaning
- bowling (down or over)
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
- solving
- unraveling
- answering
- resolving
- working
- deciphering
- breaking
- figuring out
- working out
- unriddling
- gathering
- deciding
- concluding
- deducing
- reasoning
- judging
- riddling (out)
- guessing
- inferring
- doping (out)
- puzzling (out)
- decoding
- untangling
- speculating
- divining
- ironing out
- assuming
- untying
- unscrambling
- presuming
- conjecturing
- untieing
- straightening (out)
- clearing (up)
6
as in crazing
to cause to go insane or as if insane cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently Synonyms & Similar Words
- crazing
- bothering
- disturbing
- distracting
- unhinging
- unbalancing
- unsettling
- annoying
- irritating
- upsetting
- maddening
- frenzying
- disquieting
- deranging
- unstringing
- locoing
- perturbing
- agitating
- confusing
- discomposing
- vexing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- settling
- relaxing
- soothing
- quieting
- calming
- tranquillizing
- tranquilizing