as in hamartia
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Recent Examples of tragic flaw
The diva must have great dignity, but also a tragic flaw.
—
Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
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
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
Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
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
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
-
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
-
Over the next few days, the eggplants sat in my crisper drawer, soft spots spreading across their skin like bruises.—
Reem Kassis,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Yet there is a soft spot in many partnerships.—
Jim Moore,
Outdoor Life,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That sets up Saturday’s game as an opportunity for Auburn’s coach — or perhaps his undoing.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
But the undoing of the totemic reform of Macron’s mandates would be highly symbolic.—
Charlotte Reed,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragic flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragic%20flaw. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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