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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Under the leadership of designer and founder Robin Brown, the company’s nonprofit foundation has supported causes ranging from Indigenous housing and disaster relief to animal welfare and youth arts programs.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025 -
What are the root causes of the problem?—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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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 10 Nov. 2025.
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