crucible

noun

ˈkrü-sə-bəl How to pronounce crucible (audio)
Definition of cruciblenext
as in ordeal
a test of faith, patience, or strength soldiers who had withstood the crucible of war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 crucible Forged in crucibles of traumatic childhoods and unthinkable loss, both Batman and Alice seek to right wrongs that the criminal justice system won’t touch. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 On the other hand, Burke was thrown directly into the cultural crucible. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 The standard venture model assumes that the best companies attract the most competition, and that winners emerge from that crucible. — Alex Lazarow, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Smith was elite from day one, forged in the crucible of South Florida high school football. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crucible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crucible
  1. ordeal
  2. fire
  3. gauntlet
  4. trial
Noun
  • The ordeal suffered by her, her young baby and son is chronicled through videos Roro sent through Hani, with whom Plambech developed a close relationship.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Like many biographers, Hitchcock sees this physical ordeal as a turn of events that deepened Roosevelt’s character.
    — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of ordeal
Noun
  • The following year, the Bridge fire forced the town’s evacuation and burned 13 homes.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Imagine staring up at the stars through a skylight, a mug of chamomile in hand and a fire crackling in the wood stove.
    — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of fire
Noun
  • Once past the lobby, ticket holders file along a snaking path, passing a gauntlet of screens, then take an elevator up to a series of rooms filled with … more screens.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
  • With the infinity stones in their possession, the Avengers create their own gauntlet to harness their power, and Banner uses it to restore the other half of the universe.
    — Michael McDonough, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of gauntlet
Noun
  • When the trial ended, the country gladly went back to DST in the summers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • After a 2021 trial, Silver ruled against the state, issuing an injunction that required corrections authorities to address the constitutional violations.
    — Jacques Billeaud, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of trial

Browse Nearby Words

crucial
crucible
crucibles
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Cite this Entry

“Crucible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crucible. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crucible

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crucible

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