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.

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for be-all and end-alls
  1. causes
  2. determinants
Noun
  • Nina Smith, a former Buttigieg adviser who now works closely with progressive causes, disagreed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In 2010, some of the wealthiest people in the world signed the Giving Pledge – a public commitment to donate the majority of their fortunes to charitable causes.
    — Nick Allardice, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of causes
Noun
  • Age matters, Bonnet said, when considering risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, social determinants of health, and smoking.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Serlie and colleagues are now studying determinants of weight loss success after bariatric surgery.
    — Crystal Gwizdala, Hartford Courant, 1 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.

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be-all and end-all
be-all and end-alls
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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 16 Aug. 2026.

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