the crux

noun

: the most important part of something (such as a problem, issue, puzzle, etc.)

—usually + of

The crux of the matter is that people are afraid of change.

It's taken a while to get to the crux of the problem, but I think I finally understand it.

Examples of the crux in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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All that said, here are stocks that could rally or plunge if Trump emerges victorious on Nov. 5: What to Buy Banks may be the crux of the Trump trade. —

Greg McKenna, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2024 Viewers only catch glimpses of it, however, as the crux of this story line is set in the present, when all three siblings are struggling through the newfound adulthood of their 20s. —

Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024 That pipeline of town-to-country is the crux of the Pendry Natirar experience. —

Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2024 Those results, alongside anecdotes from workers and criticisms against the two companies from governments, scholars and others, are used as the crux of Oxfam’s argument throughout the complaint. —

Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the crux