crux

noun

ˈkrəks How to pronounce crux (audio)
Definition of cruxnext
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

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 crux That, for him, was the practical crux. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026 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 But in a Big Ten Conference where height and physicality are king, two unproven big men could be the Bruins’ crux. — Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 1 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crux
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crux
  1. essence
  2. root
  3. core
  4. heart
  5. point
  6. kernel
Noun
  • That never crossed my mind before, but now in 2026, our reggaeton, our essence and our sound has become important in Mexico and even more so on a Latino level.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • But that all seems to funnel into these six tracks, mixing momentum and wisdom to arrive at the essence of the pedal steel—extreme highs, extreme lows, the expanse in between, out where life is lived.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • This can help address the root cause of behaviors such as spending excessive time in bed awake, maintaining irregular sleep schedules, and conditioned arousal such as worrying about sleep.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026
  • The Buffalo Rose Saloon (Golden) Located in the heart of downtown Golden, the buildings that house The Buffalo Rose events complex have roots that are as old as the city itself.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • The core challenge is agents' ability to exploit existing weaknesses at scale, necessitating improved governance and careful permission management.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But Cheogyal and his classmates studied the history of Tibetan dynasties, logic, philosophical systems, poetry, linguistics, and astrology – core subjects in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • If your body has been asking you in a few ways to slow down (like feeling a cough coming on, or a tiredness that won’t shake off), stop fighting against what your body or heart is trying to tell you.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Hürrem takes inspiration from the 16th‑century romance between Ottoman ruler Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent and his chief consort Roxelana, who became Hürrem Sultan upon winning his heart.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • Even if Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki relies on KU’s run game, at a certain point Cole Ballard or Isaiah Marshall (depending on who is starting) will have to throw the ball and win Kansas games.
    — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • Young hit three 3-pointers and scored 22 points — her career high in a first half — on 7-of-9 shooting as the Aces took a 52-44 lead into the intermission.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
Definition of point
Noun
  • The whole thing also needs to undergo patch review by the AMD Linux kernel engineers.
    — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026
  • The cobs are grated by hand on a box grater, before the grated kernels are folded into a batter of buttermilk, egg, flour, salt, and leavener.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 30 July 2026
Definition of kernel

Browse Nearby Words

crutches
crux
cruxes
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Cite this Entry

“Crux.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crux. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crux

Nglish: Translation of crux for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crux

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