Gen Z has mastered the art of redefining language – spinning everyday words into bold, often controversial meanings, and “cracked” is the latest twist. Once harmless, it’s now being used in ways some call “misogynistic” – clashing with the very “woke” culture this generation claims to champion.
For anyone over 25, understanding Gen Z’s vocabulary might feel like decoding an alien language.
Born between 1997 and 2012, this generation has practically invented a new dialect, filled with words like “drip,” “slay” and “bussin.” While some terms feel harmless or even kind of fun, others – like the increasingly popular “cracked” – are layered, provocative, and in some contexts, deeply problematic.
Traditionally, the dictionary defines “cracked” as either “damaged and showing lines on the surface from having split without coming apart” or, when referring to a person, as “lacking reason; completely irrational.”
But, as is Gen Z’s way, the term has been hijacked, twisted, and reinterpreted to fit new digital realities.
Gaming greatness to X-rated slang
The most widespread use of “cracked” is within the gaming community. On platforms like TikTok and Reddit, “cracked” is used to describe someone who is ridiculously skilled, particularly in competitive video games like Fortnite or Call of Duty. Think of it as a modern upgrade to “god-tier” or “next-level.”
A Reddit user described it plainly: “Cracked means [something] like insane, really good or godlike. Like when someone does some crazy s*** you say ‘damn he’s cracked.’”
Another Redditor adds, “In my terms ‘[trying to] crack’ or ‘cracked’ means had sex.”
Sexual undertones raising eyebrows
More recently, the term has taken on a darker, X-rated twist.
In certain circles, particularly on TikTok, “getting cracked” has morphed into slang for having sex – typically from a male perspective. This version is newer, but it’s catching on fast.
One TikToker, for example, overlaid the phrase “Me when I got cracked three times last night which means everyone [gonna] get FULL fries today” on a video of himself dancing and filling fry boxes in a McDonald’s kitchen.
The clip was viewed 2.1 million times and sparked widespread concern over the implications of the phrase.
‘Violent act’
Another TikTok user, @etymologynerd, broke it down in a viral video, explaining why the term is problematic: “At least in heterosexual intercourse, if Britney slept with Derek, you can say that Britney got cracked, but not that Derek got cracked,” he said. “Meanwhile, the second metaphor [of sex] visualizes it as a violent act done by a man to a woman.”
Essentially, the way “cracked” is being used now aligns with other troubling metaphors for sex – like “smashing,” “banging,” or “hitting that.” These are all framed from a male perspective, often erasing mutual participation and reinforcing a narrative that’s increasingly being called out for its misogynistic undertones.
“It sounds violent I don’t like it [to be honest],” writes one user in the comment section.
“Sooo basically toxic masculinity influences common phrases and heightens the effect of how women [are] seen as objects,” shared a second, while third writes, “evolution of misogyny.”
Another adds, “This is language feeds into misogynistic rhetoric.”
Slippery slope of slang
Of course, every generation invents its own vocabulary – some words stick, some don’t. But what makes Gen Z’s lexicon particularly slippery is its use of double meanings and social media-fueled virality.
A single word can mean “amazing” in one post, and “I had sex last night” in the next.
And while “cracked” started innocently enough, its transformation into a euphemism for sex – especially one rooted in gendered power dynamics – is sparking valid criticism.
Yet the shift also highlights a larger conversation around how we conceptualize and talk about sex in the digital age.
What do you think of the Gen Z usage of the word “cracked?” Please let us know your thoughts and then share this story with your friends!
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