as in cause
the most important part of something or the reason for something
He acts as if making money is the be-all and end-all of human existence.
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Recent Examples of be-all and end-all
Growth is the be-all and end-all of mainstream economic and political thinking.
—
David Marchesephoto Illustration By Bráulio Amado, New York Times, 17 July 2022
The days of the domestic American business being the be-all and end-all are long gone.
—Simon Thompson, Forbes, 21 June 2022
But companies should be wary of treating cyber insurance as the be-all and end-all of protection against attacks, Evans warns.
—Rishi Iyengar, CNN, 23 Mar. 2022
Love is framed as the be-all and end-all of human existence in books, films, TV shows and songs.
—Serena Smith, refinery29.com, 14 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for be-all and end-all
David Marchesephoto Illustration By Bráulio Amado, New York Times, 17 July 2022
The days of the domestic American business being the be-all and end-all are long gone.
—Simon Thompson, Forbes, 21 June 2022
But companies should be wary of treating cyber insurance as the be-all and end-all of protection against attacks, Evans warns.
—Rishi Iyengar, CNN, 23 Mar. 2022
Love is framed as the be-all and end-all of human existence in books, films, TV shows and songs.
—Serena Smith, refinery29.com, 14 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for be-all and end-all
Recent Examples of Synonyms for be-all and end-all
Noun
-
At this time, there is no information on the containment of the fire and the cause of it has yet to be determined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Yes, a little more offence would have helped the Leafs’ cause.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Most importantly, requirements to increase teacher quantity can seriously threaten teacher quality, which is a far more powerful determinant of whether students are learning.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2025
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Perhaps the most important determinant of when the central bank will restart rate cuts is what happens with inflation expectations.—
Colby Smith,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Be-all and end-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/be-all%20and%20end-all. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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