as in ordeal
a test of faith, patience, or strength
soldiers who had withstood the crucible of war
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Recent Examples of crucible
Crises’ crucibles often forge potent alliances.
—
Jamie Holmes, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
The city is internationally recognized as a crucible for the art form, from Louis Armstrong’s presence here in the 1920s to the influence of the South Side’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) on the international avant-garde.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
While a couple of those games were against minnows, his last three were in the Big 12 crucible.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
This is a proper, authentic Sicilian eatery, which, while unfussy, is still a crucible of pride and local foodie culture with high standards of service.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crucible
Jamie Holmes, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
The city is internationally recognized as a crucible for the art form, from Louis Armstrong’s presence here in the 1920s to the influence of the South Side’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) on the international avant-garde.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
While a couple of those games were against minnows, his last three were in the Big 12 crucible.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
This is a proper, authentic Sicilian eatery, which, while unfussy, is still a crucible of pride and local foodie culture with high standards of service.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crucible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crucible
Noun
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According to court records that pieced together the woman’s ordeal, the grandmother and Warren live together in East Contra Costa County.—
Harry Harris,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Because the disease is so rare, with about 200 cases treated each year, the botulism center has become a source of information and connection for families facing the ordeal.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
About 70% of the fire survivors in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas are unable to move back into their homes, leaving them paying high rents on temporary housing for more than a year, which has tapped out their savings and placed about half into serious debt.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
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When tucked away in drawers or sent to landfills, these devices create hazards like leaking toxins and fire risks from aging batteries.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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However, failing to infuse this team with appreciably more talent in the coming weeks, and thereby denying the Pats a real chance to march through the gauntlet that is their 2026 schedule, would be a cardinal sin of contending.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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In the title race, Manchester City threw down the gauntlet to leaders Arsenal with a 2-1 home win over Newcastle United, temporarily moving to within two points of the summit.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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After initial theoretical assessments and successful laboratory trials, AEON underwent its first test deployment at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig in December 2025.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
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After that, there’s a March 18 hearing to select a new trial date.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crucible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crucible. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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