✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

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

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
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.
The Razorbacks also have undergone coaching upheaval this season, and their defense has shown soft spots that a quicker, more improvisational quarterback could exploit. Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025 Cherry already has a soft spot for Biancani, never mind the grueling conditioning, including countless hours of running that whipped the Hornets into shape. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025 Analysts also pointed to a slight miss in headline Azure growth as a soft spot. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025 Surface scratches are to be expected but avoid deep cuts and squash with any soft spots. Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for soft spot

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of soft spot was in 1770

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soft spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soft%20spot. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.

Medical Definition

soft spot

noun
: a fontanel of a fetal or young skull
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!