Grail

A supremely desirable but difficult goal or discovery.

Reach for it when describing a long pursuit whose importance and elusiveness are both real

A safe, affordable battery remains the field's grail.

• warm

  dream

  personal hope matters more than strategic precision

  not when Dream can remain imaginary and may not guide serious work.

• warm

  long-sought prize

  years of effort make attainment feel rewarding

  not when Prize implies a winner or reward rather than a discovery.

• professional

  breakthrough

  a decisive discovery removes a known barrier

  not when Breakthrough is the event or result, whereas a grail can remain unfound.

• professional

  elusive goal

  difficulty of attainment deserves explicit emphasis

  not when Elusive goal lacks the cultural and near-sacred weight of grail.

• professional

  ultimate goal

  plain language should name the highest objective

  not when Ultimate goal may be fully achievable and lacks the grail's elusiveness.

• literary

  pinnacle

  the highest achieved point is what matters

  not when Pinnacle usually names a summit already reached, not an object of pursuit.

• literary

  treasure

  great value and the romance of searching are central

  not when Treasure may be material; it lacks the sense of an ultimate goal.

• dead end
• distraction
• consolation prize

• holy grail

  A recyclable adhesive is the holy grail of the current materials program.

• elusive grail

  The elusive grail drew new teams into the research challenge.

• seek the grail

  Engineers seek the grail without promising when it will arrive.

Grail draws on a Christian and Arthurian sacred object and can overstate an ordinary product goal.