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
  • Other common causes of soft spots include bruising during transport or storage, or improper storage.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Papayas that are mostly green are not ripe, while those with many soft spots or darker, shriveled skin are overripe or spoiled.
    — Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of soft spots
Noun
  • The thing that’s most advanced in ranking RBs is expected QB play given the backs need third-down conversions to add touches and to get red-zone possessions.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Pasadena native grew up around the program and attended UCLA games at the Rose Bowl, where his dad, Demetrice Martin, was the defensive backs coach from 2012-2017.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 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 22 Aug. 2026.

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