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
  • There tend to be soft spots in the schedule, and early weekdays are always slow, anyhow.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • Bubbling paint or soft spots in drywall are signs that water has already made its way inside.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 13 July 2026
Definition of soft spots
Noun
  • Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs have already been announced.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • When a buyer's quality of earnings team starts testing the add-backs and the supporting records are informal or inconsistent, the credibility of the entire financial story can suffer.
    — Robert Indries, Forbes.com, 29 July 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 2 Aug. 2026.

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