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soft spot

noun
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Definition of soft spot

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
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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 Venture capital investors also have a soft spot for these pedigree institutions. — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, "Dropout rates at India’s elite colleges have fallen drastically in last five years," 11 Feb. 2020 The academy has a soft spot for movies that present Hollywood in a good light. — Washington Post, "Which movie will win best picture at the Oscars? We examined the case for every nominee competing for the top prize.," 7 Feb. 2020 His foreign policy bears the stamp of soft spots for the Communist regimes in Nicaragua and the Soviet Union. — Rich Lowry, National Review, "Bernie Is Not Normal," 14 Jan. 2020 To Hassan, Trump followers are deluded zealots with a soft spot for authoritarian figures. — Marc Fisher, Washington Post, "The Republican Party is in thrall to Trump. Does that make him a cult leader?," 4 Oct. 2019 Passionate, smart, and seriously funny, with a soft spot for kids and four-legged friends. — Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, "The Lingering of Loss," 1 July 2019 In recent years, Eve Babitz’s work has become required reading for anybody with a soft spot for It Girl lit. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "Most Anticipated Books of 2019: 19 Picks You Should Have on Your Reading List," 1 Jan. 2019 That face was a brilliant fit for Quinn, introduced in Season 2 as a coldhearted operative with a soft spot for Carrie Mathison, the show’s lead, played by Claire Danes. — Alexis Soloski, New York Times, "Rupert Friend Is Tired of Killing," 14 June 2018 Reading between the lines, both Massport and the city had a soft spot for the No Name and tried to throw it a lifeline amid a hyper-competitive restaurant scene in the Seaport District. — BostonGlobe.com, "What really happened to the No Name?," 6 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'soft spot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of soft spot

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Time Traveler for soft spot

Time Traveler

The first known use of soft spot was in 1770

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Statistics for soft spot

Last Updated

26 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Soft spot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soft%20spot. Accessed 27 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for soft spot

soft spot

noun

English Language Learners Definition of soft spot

: a strong liking for someone or something
: a weak point that can be attacked

See the full definition for soft spot in the English Language Learners Dictionary

soft spot

noun

Medical Definition of soft spot

: a fontanel of a fetal or young skull

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with soft spot

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