as in ordeals
a test of faith, patience, or strength
soldiers who had withstood the crucible of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 crucibles
Crises’ crucibles often forge potent alliances.
—
Jamie Holmes, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
At its best, Extra Geography is a wistful look at the crucibles of young adulthood, at two people forming and re-forming into shapes that may no longer be compatible with one another.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Jamie Holmes, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026
At its best, Extra Geography is a wistful look at the crucibles of young adulthood, at two people forming and re-forming into shapes that may no longer be compatible with one another.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crucibles
Noun
-
The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Both women survived, but are still reeling from ordeals that have drawn national attention — in part, because they were captured on video and shared on social media.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Times staff writer Corinne Purtill reported on the CLEAN Waters project finding no evidence of harm in local beach ecosystems after last year’s Palisades and Eaton fires.—
Pedro Moura,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Post-punk bands face few gauntlets as arduous as the slow song, and Landowner challenge themselves to traverse three of them.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Those odds proved to be correct, as One Battle and Sinners added the final jewels to their respective gauntlets en route to this Sunday’s Academy Awards.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Thirteen pooled trials represents a meaningfully stronger level of evidence than a single small study.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The prototype engine, designated 6UEC35LSGH, completed initial hydrogen co-firing trials at J-ENG’s factory in Hyogo Prefecture.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crucibles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crucibles. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
