crucible

noun

ˈkrü-sə-bəl How to pronounce crucible (audio)
Definition of cruciblenext
as in ordeal
a test of faith, patience, or strength soldiers who had withstood the crucible of war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of crucible Smith was elite from day one, forged in the crucible of South Florida high school football. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 The kitchen wounds him, heals him, and becomes his crucible of faith. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 July 2026 His new life was an intense crucible of monastic discipline, complex logic, and rote memorization. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026 Only time will tell how many new soccer fans were forged from the crucible of this World Cup, but the TV and streaming deliveries have never been higher. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crucible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crucible
  1. ordeal
  2. fire
  3. gauntlet
  4. trial
Noun
  • The world eventually recovers from the ordeal, but consequences of the virus linger for decades.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The ordeal forces Sally to admit the existence of their magical powers.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of ordeal
Noun
  • On Monday, Fort Smith Police Officer Jonathan Mounts and his family lost their home and belongings in a house fire, according to a Facebook post from the Fort Smith Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 39.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Some 200 emergency personnel responded, finding the plane with heavy flames and smoke from a complex engine compartment fire, the department said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of fire
Noun
  • As Houston begins a gauntlet week on the road against the Phillies and Rays, submit questions for The Athletic’s Chandler Rome to answer in an upcoming mailbag.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Those lofty ambitions must first survive the 17-game gauntlet that is the NFL regular season.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of gauntlet
Noun
  • An incumbent senator, a former senator and several ex-government engineers and public works officials as well as wealthy construction executives have been detained while facing trial on corruption charges.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Skerda already excluded other claims from Sandusky that one victim profited from a trust set up with prosecutors’ help after the trial and that Sandusky’s trial attorneys were ineffective.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of trial

Browse Nearby Words

crucial
crucible
crucibles
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Cite this Entry

“Crucible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crucible. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crucible

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crucible

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