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
An 8-inch TFT screen serves as the crux of this system, which is touch-sensitive.
—
New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Still, the crux of the alliance between Washington and Seoul is predicated on deterring Pyongyang’s aggression, Hegseth said, who earlier in the week visited the Demilitarized Zone on the border with North Korea.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2025
The expiration of the enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage is at the crux of the Congressional stalemate to fund the federal government and end the shutdown.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Advertisement But while more efficient monetization of natural resources would provide a shot in the arm, the crux is leveraging that windfall to diversify the economy beyond extractive industries—futureproofing economies for when commodity prices drop.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the crux
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New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Still, the crux of the alliance between Washington and Seoul is predicated on deterring Pyongyang’s aggression, Hegseth said, who earlier in the week visited the Demilitarized Zone on the border with North Korea.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2025
The expiration of the enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage is at the crux of the Congressional stalemate to fund the federal government and end the shutdown.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Advertisement But while more efficient monetization of natural resources would provide a shot in the arm, the crux is leveraging that windfall to diversify the economy beyond extractive industries—futureproofing economies for when commodity prices drop.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 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 12 Nov. 2025.
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