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
  • The intimate hotel opens for the season in mid-to-late April, and encapsulates the essence of Broad Street, which is known for hyper-local boutiques and restaurants.
    — Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • At nighttime, my typical routine is a double-cleanse, essence, Prismatic+, retinol, and richer cream.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 6 July 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • But many housing experts point to local zoning and red tape as the root of the slowdown in homebuilding.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • For items like green onions, trim the root end and remove the outer layer and wash thoroughly under running water.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • Rookie first-round pick Cameron Carr, limited earlier by a toenail issue, added 18 points on efficient seven-for-13 shooting as the Lakers’ young core continues auditioning in Las Vegas.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili all did the same to keep as much of their championship core together during their time in San Antonio.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • An ice sculpture of a heart includes a tube through the ice arrow that pierces the heart.
    — Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
  • However, there has been discussion about keeping the 65-foot heart that has been a major photo-op for the thousands of fans that have come to Fan Fest.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
  • Ike got his fourth consecutive start at the five and responded with nine points and nine rebounds.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
Definition of point
Noun
  • Mi Rancho has been making tortillas since 1939 and continues to use whole-kernel California corn, a commitment that shows in the tortillas’ fresh taste and consistently tender texture.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 July 2026
  • The vulnerability resides in KVM, which is, in essence, a virtual machine app included in the kernel of many Linux distributions.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 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 12 Jul. 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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