Achilles' heel

Definition of Achilles' heelnext
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

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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 The Achilles' heel of this program is the high award fees, which have increased along with fuel prices and can be $400+ for a round-trip economy award. Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 13 July 2026 Starts have been the Achilles' heel for Mercedes, and especially Antonelli this season, something that was seen on Saturday morning during the Sprint. Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2026 With Jesse Minter stepping in to replace the legendary John Harbaugh, the pressure is on General Manager Eric DeCosta to provide his new coach with the tools necessary to fix a unit that proved to be the team's Achilles' heel last season. Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026 For years, spacing has been an Achilles' heel, often clogging driving lanes for LeBron. Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Achilles' heel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Achilles' heel
Noun
  • The situation at left-back or left wing-back is not much better.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The band will play in six cities during its fall tour, culminating in back-to-back concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Wide receiver Nikko Remigio extended to make a tough catch with Williams breathing down his neck on Mahomes’ next throw, then Kelce found a soft spot in the defense for a third consecutive completion as part of five straight to start the period.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Other common causes of soft spots include bruising during transport or storage, or improper storage.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Achilles' heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Achilles%27%20heel. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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