Achilles' heel

noun

Definition of Achilles' heelnext
as in back
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

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 Achilles' heel The Achilles' heel of this program is the high award fees, which have increased along with fuel prices and can be $400+ for a round-trip economy award. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 13 July 2026 Starts have been the Achilles' heel for Mercedes, and especially Antonelli this season, something that was seen on Saturday morning during the Sprint. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2026 With Jesse Minter stepping in to replace the legendary John Harbaugh, the pressure is on General Manager Eric DeCosta to provide his new coach with the tools necessary to fix a unit that proved to be the team's Achilles' heel last season. — Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026 For years, spacing has been an Achilles' heel, often clogging driving lanes for LeBron. — Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Achilles' heel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Achilles' heel
  1. back
  2. soft spot
Noun
  • Going into the summer, recruiting a left-back was on the agenda, though Newcastle feel Dedic and Livramento’s ability to play down both flanks provides enough cover.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Lucas fired four gunshots into Piper's back, and Rice and Byrd ran inside to call for help, court records say.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of back
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
  • Infants may act sluggish or not active, vomit, be unusually fussy, face poor feeding, show a bulging soft spot on the head, or show poor reflexes.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of soft spot

Browse Nearby Words

achieving
Achilles' heel
Achilles' heels
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Cite this Entry

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

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