as in hamartia
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Recent Examples of tragic flaw
Many people think of parent-child relationships as the most formative ones—the source of attachment styles, daddy issues, tragic flaws.
—
Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2024
The political actors onstage in Milwaukee wore their tragic flaws on their sleeves.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023
Thomas is selfless and fearless in his quest to do good, but his tragic flaws of hubris, stubbornness and self-destructiveness become his undoing.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2023
His obsession proved his tragic flaw.
—Pablo Sandoval, Variety, 3 Oct. 2022
Yet that benefit concealed a tragic flaw.
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 24 Aug. 2022
Eddie is the Oberyn Martell of Stranger Things: a colorful, big personality with a tragic flaw.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 July 2022
That tendency toward self-critique may ultimately have been the tragic flaw of Menand’s midcentury creatives.
—Beverly Gage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
There’s some tragic flaw there.
—Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2021
Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2024
The political actors onstage in Milwaukee wore their tragic flaws on their sleeves.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023
Thomas is selfless and fearless in his quest to do good, but his tragic flaws of hubris, stubbornness and self-destructiveness become his undoing.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2023
His obsession proved his tragic flaw.
—Pablo Sandoval, Variety, 3 Oct. 2022
Yet that benefit concealed a tragic flaw.
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 24 Aug. 2022
Eddie is the Oberyn Martell of Stranger Things: a colorful, big personality with a tragic flaw.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 July 2022
That tendency toward self-critique may ultimately have been the tragic flaw of Menand’s midcentury creatives.
—Beverly Gage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
There’s some tragic flaw there.
—Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragic flaw
Noun
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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
Noun
-
Buy fresh-looking pumpkins without blemishes, soft spots, or rotting stems.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
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Yet the growth trajectory faces an undoing of its own making.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Frankenstein, an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, centers on a brilliant but egotistical scientist (Isaac) who brings a creature (Elordi) to life in an experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragic flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragic%20flaw. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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