the crux
noun
: the most important part of something (such as a problem, issue, puzzle, etc.)
—usually + of
The crux of the matter is that people are afraid of change.
It's taken a while to get to the crux of the problem, but I think I finally understand it.
Examples of the crux in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the crux of the story hasn’t changed since its inception, the film began with a smaller budget, darker tone, and slightly older-skewing target demo.
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Eliza Berman, Time, 9 Dec. 2025
This dirtiness is the crux of the matter for Sherman.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Definitions of those words have become the crux of the case before the Supreme Court.
—Susan Haigh, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2025
So even if the rule is outdated, the crux of holiday etiquette never will be.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
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Eliza Berman, Time, 9 Dec. 2025
This dirtiness is the crux of the matter for Sherman.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
Definitions of those words have become the crux of the case before the Supreme Court.
—Susan Haigh, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2025
So even if the rule is outdated, the crux of holiday etiquette never will be.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the crux
Cite this Entry
“The crux.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20crux. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.
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