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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for be-all and end-alls
  1. causes
  2. determinants
Noun
  • While both a gall and a burl result from excessive cell division, the causes are very different.
    — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • Beekeepers reported that the primary causes of death were parasites, pathogens, exposure to pesticides and inadequate nutrition.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 25 July 2026
Definition of causes
Noun
  • The World Health Organization recognizes that individual, social and structural determinants shape mental health and that promotion and prevention efforts need to address those determinants.
    — Yujia Zhu, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • But the costs of the race will also be destiny determinants, as investors question the massive sums of capital being deployed and the timeline for seeing a return on the investment.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 27 July 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
beam
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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 1 Aug. 2026.

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