hack

16 synonyms for hack, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To cut or chop something roughly, without precision.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

trick cut

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

chop slash shortcut plug jade cab taxi hacker

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

hew workaround whoop nag taxicab drudge

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To cut or chop something roughly, without precision.

“The gardener hacked at the thick hedge until it was roughly the right shape.”

chop slash hew workaround shortcut trick cut whoop nag

2. noun

A clever shortcut, trick, or workaround.

“My favourite travel hack is rolling clothes instead of folding them.”

plug jade cab nag taxicab drudge taxi hacker

How to use hack

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

hack into life hack hack together hack away at

Etymology

From Old English haccian ("to hack, chop"), related to German hacken and Dutch hakken; the computing sense dates to the 1950s-60s, first meaning clever problem-solving before picking up its darker "break into a system" meaning by the 1960s.

Full origin of hack →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hack” mean?

The word “hack” means to cut or chop something roughly, without precision. In plain terms, to chop roughly, break into a system, or find a clever workaround — depending on context.

How do you pronounce “hack”?

“Hack” is pronounced hak (/hæk/ in IPA).

How do you use “hack” in a sentence?

Here is “hack” used in a sentence: “He hacked through the overgrown branches with a machete.”

What is another word for “hack”?

Words with a similar meaning to “hack” include nag.

What part of speech is “hack”?

Depending on how it is used, “hack” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “hack” come from?

The word “hack” dates back to around 1950 and comes from Old English.

Is “hack” a common word?

“Hack” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “hack” have?

“Hack” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cut or chop something roughly, without precision.

Is "hack" always negative when talking about computers?

No. The narrow sense — breaking into a computer system without authorization — is illegal, but "hack" also has a neutral or admiring sense of finding clever technical solutions. That is why security testers are called "ethical hackers" and coding events are called "hackathons"; context shows whether wrongdoing or ingenuity is meant.

What is the difference between "hack" and "chop"?

Both mean to cut with forceful blows, but "hack" implies rough, clumsy, or violent cutting ("the branches had been hacked off"), while "chop" suggests deliberate, controlled strokes, as when chopping wood or vegetables. "Hack" therefore often carries a tone of damage or crudeness that "chop" lacks.

People also searched

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Nearby words

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