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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
  • Thompson, then 23, and Rocco James Surace, then 30, beat Ivester with chains, burned her with cigarettes and assaulted her with a chair leg during the horrific ordeal inside the Sunny Isles Motel, 16375 Biscayne Blvd.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Despite the ordeal, Wiffen can’t wait to get back in the sky.
    — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 14 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
  • Las Vegas is about to embark on a six-game gauntlet against teams such as Kansas City, Buffalo and the Los Angeles Rams that will test how much the offense truly has improved.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of gauntlet
Noun
  • They were held to answer on murder and torture charges Thursday after a four-day preliminary hearing in Compton, and face either life in prison or the death penalty if convicted at trial.
    — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Several of Desronvil's fellow jurors who have spoken publicly since the trial say that deliberations eventually yielded an 11-1 split in favor of not guilty by reason of insanity.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 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 20 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crucible

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crucible

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