as in back
a vulnerable point
the food supply proved to be the nation's Achilles' heel in its defense against terrorist attacks
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Recent Examples of Achilles' heel
For years, spacing has been an Achilles' heel, often clogging driving lanes for LeBron.
—
Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
This is the Achilles' heel of countless companies, as IT management and employee management must increasingly be considered holistically.
—Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The Republicans' Achilles' heel The new Achilles' heel for the GOP is spring court elections, which have become highly partisan and politically consequential.
—Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 18 July 2025
In Apple's case, solid-state drives have sometimes been an Achilles' heel.
—Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 10 June 2025
Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
This is the Achilles' heel of countless companies, as IT management and employee management must increasingly be considered holistically.
—Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The Republicans' Achilles' heel The new Achilles' heel for the GOP is spring court elections, which have become highly partisan and politically consequential.
—Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 18 July 2025
In Apple's case, solid-state drives have sometimes been an Achilles' heel.
—Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 10 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Achilles' heel
Noun
-
Over his 12-year NFL career, Mathieu became regarded as one of the league's premier defensive backs.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Multiple videos that emerged of the shooting contradicted that claim, showing the intensive care nurse had only his mobile phone in his hand as officers tackled him to the ground, with one removing a handgun from the back of Pretti's pants as another officer began firing shots into his back.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Trevor develops a soft spot for his mark, and the series settles into a caper of two guys clinging, desperately, to the dream of stardom.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Look for firm mushrooms that are free of soft spots or mold.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Achilles' heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Achilles%27%20heel. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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