Achilles' heels

noun

plural of Achilles' heel
as in soft spots
a vulnerable point the food supply proved to be the nation's Achilles' heel in its defense against terrorist attacks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Achilles' heels
  1. soft spots
  2. backs
Noun
  • There tend to be soft spots in the schedule, and early weekdays are always slow, anyhow.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • Bubbling paint or soft spots in drywall are signs that water has already made its way inside.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 13 July 2026
Definition of soft spots
Noun
  • An elite prep wrestler who rushed for more than 5,000 yards in high school, Brown’s burst and bounce in the box are good enough to mirror plenty of actual running backs near the hole.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Rolling on their backs makes whales more vulnerable to being hit by ships.
    — Gennaro Tomma, Scientific American, 22 July 2026
Definition of backs
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Achilles' heel
Achilles' heels
aching
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Cite this Entry

“Achilles' heels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Achilles%27%20heels. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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