Synonyms of be-all and end-all

be-all and end-all

noun

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.

Related Words

• cause
• determinant
• alpha and omega
• reason
• root
• origin
• source
• causation
• causality
• consideration
• factor
• impetus
• mother
• incentive
• antecedent
• occasion
• stimulus
• inspiration
• spring
• instigation

Dissimilar Words

• conclusion
• side effect
• end
• denouement
• ramification
• repercussion
• by-product

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of be-all and end-all

Although a loss to the Bills would drop those chances to 25 percent, the outcome of Thursday’s game is not the be-all and end-all. — Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Nov. 2022

Deficit reduction was the be-all and end-all of fiscal policy. — Martin Sullivan, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022

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

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