BE-ALL AND END-ALLS Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

be-all and end-alls

noun

plural of be-all and end-all

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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for be-all and end-alls

Noun

Others, including major philanthropic institutions, have pulled back out of fear of retribution that giving to political or racial justice causes could draw the administration's ire.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Activists of all ages are organizing events to promote sustainability, biodiversity and other environmental causes.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of causes

Noun

In their perspective published Saturday in the New England Journal of Medicine, a veterinarian and an oncologist quickly point out the social determinants of health at play in this scenario.

— Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026
One of us is a social epidemiologist who studies the social and structural determinants of health, and the other is a prevention scientist who studies risk and protective factors among young people.

— Jonathan Wright, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of determinants

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

be-all and end-all

be-all and end-alls

beam

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Be-all and end-alls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/be-all%20and%20end-alls. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of be-all and end-alls

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tactile

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes