crucible

noun

ˈkrü-sə-bəl How to pronounce crucible (audio)
Definition of cruciblenext
as in ordeal
a test of faith, patience, or strength soldiers who had withstood the crucible of war

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 crucible The kitchen wounds him, heals him, and becomes his crucible of faith. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 July 2026 His new life was an intense crucible of monastic discipline, complex logic, and rote memorization. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026 Only time will tell how many new soccer fans were forged from the crucible of this World Cup, but the TV and streaming deliveries have never been higher. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 July 2026 England is a contender with mettle to prove, and facing Mexico at Estadio Azteca is a crucible. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crucible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crucible
  1. ordeal
  2. fire
  3. gauntlet
  4. trial
Noun
  • Philipps has come out of the six-month ordeal feeling nothing but gratitude.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Within a week, Cano was in Wilson’s office, describing her ordeal.
    — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of ordeal
Noun
  • Officials initially responded Saturday morning to a 911 call about a vehicle fire in unincorporated Washington County, outside the city of Forest Grove.
    — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The blaze was quickly upgraded to a third-alarm fire, which is classified as a major emergency that requires a high level of response.
    — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fire
Noun
  • But before Bane can finish him off, Batman stabs a Batarang into a little knob on Bane’s wrist gauntlet, the one that controls his intake of Venom.
    — Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Ole Miss has to get through the SEC gauntlet of LSU, Florida and Vanderbilt before hosting the Tigers.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of gauntlet
Noun
  • The petition argues Mays’ language during the trial revealed something deeper than a poor defense strategy — a worldview that dehumanized the man he was supposed to defend.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For nearly four years, Lopez, 56, of Vancouver, Washington, has been at Santa Rita Jail waiting for this trial.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of trial

Browse Nearby Words

crucial
crucible
crucibles
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Cite this Entry

“Crucible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crucible. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crucible

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crucible

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