as in hamartia
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Recent Examples of tragic flaw
Transit improvements will also give many residents better opportunities for jobs, because transportation will not be their tragic flaw.
—
Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2025
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
That tendency toward self-critique may ultimately have been the tragic flaw of Menand’s midcentury creatives.
—Beverly Gage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
And yet there remains an ineffable quality, especially in Aje — a placid dreamy blankness, inimitable, touching in its naiveté, and a tragic flaw all at once.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2025
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
That tendency toward self-critique may ultimately have been the tragic flaw of Menand’s midcentury creatives.
—Beverly Gage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
And yet there remains an ineffable quality, especially in Aje — a placid dreamy blankness, inimitable, touching in its naiveté, and a tragic flaw all at once.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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
-
And suddenly, somehow, the Olympics became her soft spot, the site of crippling vulnerability.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Many were surprised when the chicken salad sandwich was taken off the menu in 2017, primarily because so many people have a longtime soft spot for the unique cold-spread sandwich.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Rose’s attempts to make a success of her life will be her undoing, however, a fate that begins to unfold when a neighboring landowner offers her his daughter, Suzanna (Caro Braun).—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Legal challenges are certain for an action that repeals all greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks, and could unleash a broader undoing of climate regulations on stationary sources such as power plants and oil and gas facilities, experts say.—
Matthew Daly,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tragic flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragic%20flaw. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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