as in ordeal
a test of faith, patience, or strength
soldiers who had withstood the crucible of war
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Recent Examples of crucible
Drones in the Russia-Ukraine War The Russia-Ukraine conflict, initiated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 (an extension of Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea) has served as a crucible for innovations in UAV warfare.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Parker’s gigs at ETA became a crucible for younger players.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
Michael Owens / Getty Images Eli's journey to becoming Pittsburgh's newest favorite hometown kid, however, started as a Mount Lebanon Blue Devil on the gridiron, but was forged in the academic, physical, and mental crucible of the United States Naval Academy.
—Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Vietnam of course was the crucible of my generation, and the influence of that war led me to write about two wars of the past, WWII, and the Civil War.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crucible
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Parker’s gigs at ETA became a crucible for younger players.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
Michael Owens / Getty Images Eli's journey to becoming Pittsburgh's newest favorite hometown kid, however, started as a Mount Lebanon Blue Devil on the gridiron, but was forged in the academic, physical, and mental crucible of the United States Naval Academy.
—Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Vietnam of course was the crucible of my generation, and the influence of that war led me to write about two wars of the past, WWII, and the Civil War.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crucible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crucible
Noun
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Meanwhile, Phillips said, victims are left to live with the impacts of the perpetrators’ actions — with the survivors in this case forced to continue to relive their ordeals as the case continues on to the Court of Appeal.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
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Success after so much failure—gut-wrenching letdowns after episodes of Odyssean temptation to fleeting belief; too many to count—is almost an ordeal.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Zelensky also posted footage showing explosions and several fires at one Russian facility and a huge plume of thick, black smoke rising behind a high-rise building.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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Sherrill cited public safety concerns after officials reported protesters had set tires and chairs on fire, thrown makeshift projectiles and weaponized police shields.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Noun
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But the coaching search is a similar gauntlet for a different type of talent identification.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
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That being said, whether to try to get closer for better missile shots, while running the gauntlet of Ukrainian SAM units.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
Noun
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Laura said Vallow Daybell's actions during the trial did not meet the serious nature of the courtroom.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
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Lewis oversaw workshops with school kids himself, traveling to schools in his free time, staging mock trials and handing out copies of legal documents, like the Constitution.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crucible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crucible. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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