Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

soft spot

noun
|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of soft spot

1 : a sentimental weakness
  • has a soft spot for him
2 : a vulnerable point
  • a soft spot in the defense system

See soft spot defined for English-language learners

Examples of soft spot in a Sentence

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

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

Recent Examples of soft spot from the Web

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.

First Known Use of soft spot

1770

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

SOFT SPOT Defined for English Language Learners

soft spot

noun

Definition of soft spot for English Language Learners

  • : a strong liking for someone or something

  • : a weak point that can be attacked

Medical Dictionary

soft spot

noun

medical Definition of soft spot

: a fontanel of a fetal or young skull

Learn More about soft spot

  1. See words that rhyme with soft spot

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up soft spot? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

effigy

play

a figure representing a hated person

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

soft spot

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games