soft spot

noun

1

: a sentimental weakness : a strong liking for someone or something

They both have a soft spot for puppies. [=like puppies very much]

2

: a vulnerable point

a soft spot in the defense system

Synonyms of soft spot

• back

Examples of soft spot in a Sentence

They found a soft spot in the enemy's defenses.

a huge trade imbalance continued to be the soft spot in the nation's economy

Recent Examples on the Web

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

If the fruit has wrinkles or soft spots or doesn’t smell good, don’t buy it. — Christina Manian, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 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

The plush chenille gives your feet a soft spot to land after stepping out of the shower, while the absorbent fibers help keep water off your floor — the rubber backing helps prevent the mat from shifting around, too. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for soft spot

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot

Medical Definition

soft spot

noun

: a fontanel of a fetal or young skull