Achilles' heels

noun

plural of Achilles' heel
as in soft spots
a vulnerable point the food supply proved to be the nation's Achilles' heel in its defense against terrorist attacks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Achilles' heels
  1. soft spots
  2. backs
Noun
  • Fagnano was able to diagnose some of the disguises from Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, finding soft spots in zone coverages both in the short and intermediate areas of the field.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Other common causes of soft spots include bruising during transport or storage, or improper storage.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of soft spots
Noun
  • After being implanted beneath the skin of their backs, the tissues developed their own blood supply and began to contract spontaneously.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • One of these backs could be a healthy scratch for the opener.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of backs
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Achilles' heel
Achilles' heels
aching
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Cite this Entry

“Achilles' heels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Achilles%27%20heels. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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