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 The noise reached its crux during the Oklahoma State game, after which — coincidentally or not — Peterson started playing more. — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026 And midway up the ascent, Herson encountered an unbelievably challenging crux. — Frederick Dreier, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026 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 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
  • But Williams, with her trademark video diaries, has distilled a vision of contemporary New York to its purest essence.
    — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026
  • One wants to know her stories, but more than that one wants to know her essence.
    — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Before looking at groundwater, the team tested similar sensors to guide breast cancer surgery and to image root systems in plant biology.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Vest’s campus roots Ma, 25, became interested in crypto derivatives while studying finance and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • The core mission of the SSC is to move personnel and material off amphibious ships.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The market kept its core strands and added ProducerHub, InnoAsia, Doc Square and The A, and these drew people who had never attended a market before.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • The story follows a celebrated pediatric heart surgeon whose daughter falls prey to a vengeful ghost.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The nine suites sell out far in advance, especially if there's a popular event in the city, so book well ahead if your heart is set on staying here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • Trump won the area in 2020 by 2 points before padding his victory to 9 points in 2024.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The point is to have that conversation before the savings have already been committed elsewhere.
    — Christoph Trattner, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of point
Noun
  • These microscopic fuel kernels retain radioactive material even under extreme temperatures.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
  • According to Farmers’ Almanac, the kernel takes one of three shapes, each representing a different forecast.
    — Tricia Goss, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 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 15 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crux

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crux

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