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
  • Avoid using onions with any soft spots, sprouts, or signs of decay or discoloration.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of soft spots
Noun
  • Three City Section running backs — Tru Warrior Casas of Fairfax, Ceasar Reyes of Garfield and Brandon Hernandez of Panorama — are going back and forth leading the state in rushing.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Restorers address common signs of wear and tear, such as drawer runners worn down by nearly two centimeters and drawer backs reduced to half their original thickness by decades of knives repeatedly striking the wood.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 2026.

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