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hamartia

noun

Definition of hamartianext
as in tragic flaw

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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 hamartia Kennedy’s ruthlessness and ambition—which are treated as the Kennedys’ hamartia in Chappaquiddick—are swept under the rug of his compassion. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 30 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamartia
  1. tragic flaw
  2. undoing
Noun
  • Cox’s film is biased in Bill’s favor, portraying him as a lapdog whose love for this screeching, spiteful, beady-eyed woman is his great tragic flaw.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
  • So there’s a sort of tragic flaw right from the beginning in our telling.
    — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 24 July 2026
Definition of tragic flaw
Noun
  • The Islamic State’s overreach in Iraq and Syria was ultimately its undoing.
    — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
  • That part was sorely lacking at LSU and was a big reason for his undoing.
    — Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of undoing

Browse Nearby Words

hamadryads
hamartia
hamartias
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Cite this Entry

“Hamartia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamartia. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hamartia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hamartia

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