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

That joie de vivre—rather than illness itself—is the crux of the film. — Riann Phillip, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2026

Gamifying reading and transforming it into a habit is the crux of Singapore’s initiative, said Loh Chin Ee from the country’s National Institute of Education. — Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

Feminist themes have been at the crux of the director’s four features to date. — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026

The Republican party has promised a return to the good ol’ days, with strong nuclear families at the crux and a fight against the declining birth rate. — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for the crux

• deluxe
• influx
• mamluks
• redux
• woodchucks
• chucks
• ducks
• dux
• flux
• klux
• lux
• plucks