BE-ALL AND END-ALL Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

be-all and end-all

noun

as in cause

the most important part of something or the reason for something He acts as if making money is the be-all and end-all of human existence.

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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 be-all and end-all Although a loss to the Bills would drop those chances to 25 percent, the outcome of Thursday’s game is not the be-all and end-all. — Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Nov. 2022 Deficit reduction was the be-all and end-all of fiscal policy. — Martin Sullivan, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022 Growth is the be-all and end-all of mainstream economic and political thinking. — David Marchesephoto Illustration By Bráulio Amado, New York Times, 17 July 2022 But companies should be wary of treating cyber insurance as the be-all and end-all of protection against attacks, Evans warns. — Rishi Iyengar, CNN, 23 Mar. 2022 See All Example Sentences for be-all and end-all

Recent Examples of Synonyms for be-all and end-all

Noun

Anderson said the man appeared to have died of natural causes and that no foul play was suspected.

— Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Brain games, crosswords and math puzzles are often promoted as ways to sharpen memory, but neurologists warn that generic exercises may not address the specific cause of mental fog.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of cause

Noun

The chief determinant of that unlikely success has been not individual genius in the lab, or individual prowess in the boardroom, but collective planning and coördination at a breathtaking scale.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Use Multiple Data Points Wealth indicators provide a partial snapshot of an individual’s financial position and should not be the sole determinant of a donor’s capacity to make a significant gift.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of determinant

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be-all and end-all

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“Be-all and end-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/be-all%20and%20end-all. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of be-all and end-all

noun

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