RACK Synonyms: 178 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'rack' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rack are afflict , torment , torture , and try . While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," rack stresses straining or wrenching. // a body racked by pain

Q: When would 'afflict' be a good substitute for 'rack'?

Although the words afflict and rack have much in common, afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress. // ills that afflict the elderly

Q: When is it sensible to use 'torment' instead of 'rack'?

The meanings of torment and rack largely overlap; however, torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance. // a horse tormented by flies

Q: Where would 'torture' be a reasonable alternative to 'rack'?

The words torture and rack can be used in similar contexts, but torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering. // tortured by a sense of guilt

Q: When is 'try' a more appropriate choice than 'rack'?

The words try and rack are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control. // children often try their parents' patience

rack 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rack

as in bed

a place set aside for sleeping the clock struck midnight, signaling that it was time to hit the rack

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as in distress

a state of great suffering of body or mind suffering the rack of a sprained ankle, the climber had to make his way back down the mountain to camp felt the rack of regret after losing her temper with her teenagers

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rack

2 of 2

verb

as in to plague

to cause persistent suffering to the young man was racked with guilt over the lie he had told to his parents the country has been racked by years of civil war

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to pull

to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure she racked her brain trying to remember where she'd put the money the sails of the boat were racked by the storm's winds

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rack different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rack are afflict, torment, torture, and try. While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

When would afflict be a good substitute for rack?

Although the words afflict and rack have much in common, afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.

ills that afflict the elderly

When is it sensible to use torment instead of rack?

The meanings of torment and rack largely overlap; however, torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

Where would torture be a reasonable alternative to rack?

The words torture and rack can be used in similar contexts, but torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

When is try a more appropriate choice than rack?

The words try and rack are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of rack

Noun

After baking, make sure your bread is cooled completely on a wire rack. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026 One table housed hockey sticks and sparkly leotards dangled from a nearby rack. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Verb

Diaz reportedly responded by racking his handgun and firing at Martinez’s feet. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 Opponents of these warehouse-like complexes, which are filled with energy-hungry computer servers, are racking wins. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rack

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rack

Noun

Sometimes poison ivy will creep into beds from nearby woodlands, but these plants can also find their way into flower beds via seeds dropped by birds.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
The Trust says the project would involve dredging around 643,000 cubic meters of sediment from the Fal Estuary, with potential risks to seagrass, kelp, maerl beds and the area’s native oyster fishery.

— David Nikel, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of bed

Noun

The lawsuit requests damages of $10 million for past and future physical injuries, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

— Madison Lambert, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
The lawsuits seek damages for wrongful death, economic loss and emotional distress, Crump said.

— Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of distress

Verb

What did Widow’s Bay creator and showrunner Katie Dippold see in Matthew Rhys as Tom Loftis, mayor of the New England island town plagued by a historic curse?

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
South Africa is plagued by violence, but extensive research has found that white South African farmers are not victims of crime at higher rates than other groups.

— Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of plague

Verb

Disney pulled a series of strategic levers to get people through their park gates at a time when many are being choosy about how to spend their dollars, according to industry analysts.

— Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Another moment was marked by mourning, as a man was pulled from a building in the same city, lifeless and covered in a white blanket.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of pull

Noun

Tijssen, who lives in France with her partner ‌and two sons, was sitting on the couch in April when a pop-up on her phone said her DNA results were in.

— Reuters, NBC news, 12 Aug. 2026
Here are 10 great, comparatively tame stunts to introduce your kids to the cringe-inducing fun of Jackass… but make sure there’s a spot behind the couch handy with which to hide, just in case.

— Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of couch

Verb

Although the two programs similarly target humanitarian concerns, being a TPS holder does not guarantee asylum, which requires that applicants prove they’ve been persecuted on specific grounds.

— Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026
In The Bacchae, Dionysus becomes violent only because his existence has been denied and his followers persecuted, and his maenads similarly become destructive only when pursued.

— Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026

Definition of persecute

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“Rack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rack. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of rack

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verb

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Synonyms of rack

noun

verb

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Phrases Containing rack

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Rack vs. Wrack

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on rack

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

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Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

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The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

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A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes