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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And that’s the crux of the great PC refresh-slash-landfill that the Windows ecosystem now faces. —

Zak Doffman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025 That underscores the crux of the issue in L.A.: the lack of a true third star behind James and Davis. —

John Hollinger, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024 The cars used in the sport, too, are nothing short of engineering breakthroughs, making tech innovation and investment the crux of the F1 championship. —

Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 26 Nov. 2024 Phillips Payson O’Brien: How Biden made a mess of Ukraine Defining a security guarantee will be the crux of any deal. —

Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the crux