crucible

noun

cru·ci·ble | \ ˈkrü-sə-bəl

Definition of crucible

1 : a vessel of a very refractory (see refractory entry 1 sense 3) material (such as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat

2 : a severe test He's ready to face the crucible of the Olympics.

3 : a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development … conditioned by having grown up within the crucible of Chinatown …— Tom Wolfe His character was formed in the crucible of war.

Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about crucible

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Synonyms for crucible

Synonyms

cross, fire, gauntlet (also gantlet), ordeal, trial

Did You Know?

Crucible looks like it should be closely related to the Latin combining form "cruc-" ("cross"), but it isn't. It was forged from the Medieval Latin crucibulum, a noun for an earthen pot used to melt metals, and in English it first referred to a vessel of a very heat-resistant material (such as porcelain) used for melting a substance that requires a high degree of heat. But the resemblance between cruc- and crucible probably encouraged people to start using "crucible" to mean "a severe trial." That sense is synonymous with one meaning of "cross," a word that is related to "cruc-." The newest sense of "crucible" ("a situation in which great changes take place" - as in "forged in the crucible of war") recalls the fire and heat that would be encountered in the original heat-resistant pot.

Examples of crucible in a Sentence

He's ready to face the crucible of the Olympics. His character was formed in the crucible of war.

Recent Examples on the Web

Competitive games against Mexico will remain the crucible that most regularly tests the United States, but the ultimate goal isn’t only to beat a Mexico team that has looked underwhelming on Sunday. — Kevin Draper, New York Times, "For the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team, Hopes Rise but Mexico Awaits," 6 July 2019 Each hole becomes a vexing crucible of course management. — Daniel Rapaport, SI.com, "Tom's Last Charge: An Oral History of the 2009 British Open," 15 July 2019 Within this crucible, though, and amid the distractions, the American women hardly missed a beat. — Andrew Keh, New York Times, "U.S. Wins World Cup and Becomes a Champion for Its Time," 7 July 2019 Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, are a couple whose bond was forged in the crucible of a paparazzo’s flashtube. — Troy Patterson, The New Yorker, "“The Hills: New Beginnings” and Our Warped American Reality," 17 July 2019 This was in South Wales, which is very much a crucible of the labor movement. — Eric Johnson, Vox, "Journalist Carole Cadwalladr has a question for tech workers: Are you okay with your bosses enabling “techno-fascism?”," 8 July 2019 From the revered crucible of Centre Court and the all-white clothing of the players, to the overnight camping and famous queue for daily tickets, and the elegance of polished notables in the royal box, the atmosphere is quintessentially British. — Rob Hodgetts, CNN, "Wimbledon 2019: Britain's tennis love-in and the quest for grand slam glory," 1 July 2019 Of course, what truly motivated Johnson’s enemies were principles of justice and morality forged in the crucible of civil war. — Michael Kazin, The New Republic, "The Impossibility of Impeachment," 10 June 2019 In the early summer of 2013, giant protests against Mr. Morsi filled Tahrir Square, the crucible of the 2011 uprising, providing the military with an excuse to oust him. — Declan Walsh, New York Times, "Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s First Democratically Elected President, Dies," 17 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crucible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for crucible

crucible

noun

English Language Learners Definition of crucible

: a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or melted

formal + literary : a difficult test or challenge

formal + literary : a place or situation that forces people to change or make difficult decisions

See the full definition for crucible in the English Language Learners Dictionary

crucible

noun

cru·ci·ble | \ ˈkrü-sə-bəl

Kids Definition of crucible

: a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or melted

crucible

noun

cru·ci·ble | \ ˈkrü-sə-bəl

Medical Definition of crucible

: a vessel of a very refractory material (as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat

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crucible

Definition of crucible

Synonyms for crucible

Did You Know?

Examples of crucible in a Sentence

First Known Use of crucible

History and Etymology for crucible

English Language Learners Definition of crucible

Kids Definition of crucible

Medical Definition of crucible

crucible

Definition of crucible

Synonyms for crucible

Did You Know?

Examples of crucible in a Sentence

First Known Use of crucible

History and Etymology for crucible

English Language Learners Definition of crucible

Kids Definition of crucible

Medical Definition of crucible

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