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
-
The poppy became such a recognizable symbol for remembrance observances that veterans’ groups started selling paper replicas of the flowers to raise money for veterans’ causes.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
12 Nov. 2025 -
But that is only one of the causes, the consultants told CNN.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Moore suggests focusing on the social determinants of health — providing stable housing and a strong education, for instance — in addition to intervention work.—
Cleo Krejci,
jsonline.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Many infectious diseases are lethal only for the poor; they are layered atop comorbidities and chronic conditions produced by social and commercial determinants of health.—
Stan Chu Ilo,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Be-all and end-alls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/be-all%20and%20end-alls. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share