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

Chez Fonfon sits at the crux of Five Points South, a neighborhood named for five streets that converge in a star shape where streetcars connecting the then suburb of Highland to the city once rumbled. — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

Ospreay said the crux of Clockwork Carnage blends the Casino Gauntlet with an iron man match. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Across the fashion week map this season, chic showgoers made slouchy leather jackets the crux of their street style looks, while models nipping between casting calls threw their own bikers over basics on the run. — Christina Holevas, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026

Those complaints against the village are at the crux of a lawsuit filed by the Lake County Data Center Opposition Coalition, which seeks to block the project. — Tara Molina, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for the crux

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