as in ordeal
a test of faith, patience, or strength
soldiers who had withstood the crucible of war
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Recent Examples of crucible
The city is internationally recognized as a crucible for the art form, from Louis Armstrong’s presence here in the 1920s to the influence of the South Side’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) on the international avant-garde.
—
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
While a couple of those games were against minnows, his last three were in the Big 12 crucible.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
This is a proper, authentic Sicilian eatery, which, while unfussy, is still a crucible of pride and local foodie culture with high standards of service.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Such a wellspring of material is seemingly inexhaustible, though the show strains a bit when working to match the festival shooting as a crucible that pushes its cast to the breaking point.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crucible
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
While a couple of those games were against minnows, his last three were in the Big 12 crucible.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
This is a proper, authentic Sicilian eatery, which, while unfussy, is still a crucible of pride and local foodie culture with high standards of service.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Such a wellspring of material is seemingly inexhaustible, though the show strains a bit when working to match the festival shooting as a crucible that pushes its cast to the breaking point.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crucible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crucible
Noun
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Many people come to the story—the missing woman, the panicked family, the ordeal so singular but relatable—expressing compassion.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Following practice on Tuesday before the suspensions were handed out, Lee detailed how the Hornets can use the whole ordeal to better themselves.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The crucial employment snapshot is slightly delayed because of the brief government shutdown and will show whether the trajectory improved for the US labor market, which has been stuck in a low-hire and low-fire lull.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Italy’s national fire and rescue service, Vigili del Fuoco, reported that, over the weekend, two people died and one was seriously injured in Alpe Meriggio in Valtellina after being caught in an avalanche that fatally buried at least one of the victims.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But that gauntlet is now over, and the Horned Frogs must take advantage and begin to stack wins, starting with Saturday’s game against Kansas State.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
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Rookie left tackle Will Campbell’s gauntlet of a postseason doesn’t get any easier in Super Bowl LX with the Patriots facing off against the Seahawks’ vaunted defense.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Some of those talks have sidelined antitrust chief Gail Slater, who inherited the Live Nation case from the Biden administration but has pursued it toward a trial set for March.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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Seventy-three trial attorneys and seven appellate attorneys also continued legal education, logging 188 hours of training from the Oklahoma Bar Association.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crucible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crucible. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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