nutcracker

noun

nut·​crack·​er ˈnət-ˌkra-kər How to pronounce nutcracker (audio)
: an implement for cracking nuts

Examples of nutcracker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The countless repetitions give you the most beautiful art form where swans glide, fairies dance and every year a giant nutcracker appears. — Chrissie Leong, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026 Others also started donating and today, Luverne’s 7,554 nutcrackers outnumber its roughly 5,000 residents. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 To open peach pits, use a nutcracker, vice, or screw clamp to apply gentle pressure along the seams. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 May 2026 Yes, every episode includes a murder investigation, but the crime is more likely to involve a paper shredder, a hot tub, or a giant nutcracker head than a gun. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nutcracker

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nutcracker was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing nutcracker

Rhymes for nutcracker

See All Rhymes for nutcracker

Browse Nearby Words

nut coal
nutcracker
nutfall
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Cite this Entry

“Nutcracker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nutcracker. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nutcracker

noun
nut·​crack·​er ˈnət-ˌkrak-ər How to pronounce nutcracker (audio)
: a device for cracking the shells of nuts

More from Merriam-Webster on nutcracker

Nglish: Translation of nutcracker for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nutcracker

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