as in essence
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
the crux of the problem is that the school's current budget is totally inadequate
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crux
Climb Ice Cream features flavors named after terms familiar to climbers, such as pRappel (ube chocolate chip), K2 (spicy apple pie), Mount Matcha, v3 (vanilla), chocolate crux and more.
—
Samantha Gowen, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
The real crux of the outrage against Spilsbury was her endorsement of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November presidential election.
—Maritza Dominguez, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
That’s another crux of the problem: Wages haven’t kept up with home prices.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Therein lies the whodunnit crux of Netflix's new psychological thriller The Woman in Cabin 10.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crux
Samantha Gowen, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
The real crux of the outrage against Spilsbury was her endorsement of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November presidential election.
—Maritza Dominguez, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
That’s another crux of the problem: Wages haven’t kept up with home prices.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Therein lies the whodunnit crux of Netflix's new psychological thriller The Woman in Cabin 10.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crux
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crux
Noun
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The instrumental break before the final chorus, with Nilles let loose on Neil Peart’s parts and Lifeson soloing like his Seventies self, was one of the many moments of uncanny resurrection on the tour so far — the essence of Rush, in full, despite the tragic absence of a key third of the band.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
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The hotel is the essence of quiet luxury, a welcome contrast to its flashier Laguna neighbors.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The 36-year-old entrepreneur from Stanford, Connecticut, moved to Mexico City last year to reconnect with the roots of his late grandparents.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
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Jason Momoa, who was born in Hawaii, was photographed helping Lola arrange traditional colorful Hawaiian garlands, the leis, a tribute to her roots.—
Monica Coviello,
Vanity Fair,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The company credited that pace to the core technology stack already powering its commercial aircraft.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
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The collection is produced in extremely limited quantities, spotlighting the uniqueness of each material while maintaining the exclusivity at the core of the collaboration.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
11 June 2026
Noun
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After the road trip, Washington, then 73, stepped aside from his managerial duties indefinitely before undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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The findings, the latest in a growing body of research about the vaccine’s benefits for heart health, suggest such benefits observed in earlier studies have persisted for years.—
Daniel Wu,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
Noun
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The sanctioning body’s counsel pushed back on several points during cross-examination Monday and will continue to do so Tuesday.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Dec. 2025
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Markets are expecting a nearly 90% chance of a quarter-point cut, according to the CME FedWatch tool.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The kernels should feel plump and firm, and the tassel—the cluster of silks at the top of the ear—should be white or yellow.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
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One night in 1983, the two smothered Smith’s kitchen in corn kernels.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crux.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crux. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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