as in causes
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 Synonyms for be-all and end-alls
Noun
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Since Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn took office in 2017, more than 70 inmates have died in Tarrant County Jail from causes ranging from malnutrition and dehydration to use of force by jail staff, as was the case with Anthony Johnson, whose death was ruled a homicide.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026 -
And with Swilley’s involvement, those causes have become more specific.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Co-occurring mental health concerns often drive substance use, and social determinants such as housing stability, employment, access to care, and systemic inequities strongly shape outcomes.—
Gwilym Roddick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
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This approach embodies the upstream vision of addressing social determinants of health—creating the conditions for people to thrive physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
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“Be-all and end-alls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/be-all%20and%20end-alls. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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