as in back
a vulnerable point
the food supply proved to be the nation's Achilles' heel in its defense against terrorist attacks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of Achilles' heel
Amir Levy/Getty The fact that Hamas is holding hostages seems to be Israel's Achilles' heel.
—
Meredith Wolf Schizer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 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
The Red Storm have one of the best draws of the tournament and have improved their 3-point shooting drastically, which was an Achilles' heel early on.
—Vaughn Dalzell, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
While cardio isn't an Achilles' heel for Pantoja, there may be no one in the history of the sport with a deeper gas tank than Dvalishvili.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Meredith Wolf Schizer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 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
The Red Storm have one of the best draws of the tournament and have improved their 3-point shooting drastically, which was an Achilles' heel early on.
—Vaughn Dalzell, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
While cardio isn't an Achilles' heel for Pantoja, there may be no one in the history of the sport with a deeper gas tank than Dvalishvili.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Achilles' heel
Noun
-
One of these is Trent Alexander-Arnold but, as The Athletic has reported, a position change to midfield was not discussed in depth during the process of his transfer from Liverpool as Madrid saw him as one of the best right-backs in the world.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Plus, the rust-tone orange is vibrant, and the strings on the back keep the cushions firmly in place.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Buy fresh-looking pumpkins without blemishes, soft spots, or rotting stems.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Despite the slight decline on Friday, stocks are still pricing in low odds of recession and forecasting that the Fed will begin rate cuts soon enough for this to remain a soft spot in the labor market rather than a full-fledged downturn.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Achilles' heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Achilles%27%20heel. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share