as in back
a vulnerable point
the food supply proved to be the nation's Achilles' heel in its defense against terrorist attacks
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Recent Examples of Achilles' heel
The Red Storm have one of the best draws of the tournament and have improved their 3-point shooting drastically, which was an Achilles' heel early on.
—
Vaughn Dalzell, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
While cardio isn't an Achilles' heel for Pantoja, there may be no one in the history of the sport with a deeper gas tank than Dvalishvili.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Now, historically, the Achilles' heel of our system has to do with foreign banks, because when an American puts a bank deposit with a foreign bank, there's no withholding and there's no reporting.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
An old Achilles' heel still hobbling Falcons' defense: 5 factors
ACC’s middle class holds the key to reversing its negative hoops narrative
Padres at Dodgers Game 5 odds, projections, schedule: Do or die with an NLCS spot on the line
Who has edge for Canada's 4 Nations net?
—New York Times, 11 Oct. 2024
Eventually, the one Achilles' heel to the state's green dreams will be the amount of aviation fuel required to bring the visitors who fuel its economy.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024
Free throws are huge again Free-throw shooting continues to be an Achilles' heel for this IU team.
—Zion Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Jan. 2024
The shape of the bag was intentionally placed on the Achilles' heel.
—Venesa Coger, refinery29.com, 11 July 2023
As is often the case, Apple's Achilles' heel is the price of its products.
—Ben Gottesman, PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2023
Vaughn Dalzell, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
While cardio isn't an Achilles' heel for Pantoja, there may be no one in the history of the sport with a deeper gas tank than Dvalishvili.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Now, historically, the Achilles' heel of our system has to do with foreign banks, because when an American puts a bank deposit with a foreign bank, there's no withholding and there's no reporting.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
An old Achilles' heel still hobbling Falcons' defense: 5 factors
ACC’s middle class holds the key to reversing its negative hoops narrative
Padres at Dodgers Game 5 odds, projections, schedule: Do or die with an NLCS spot on the line
Who has edge for Canada's 4 Nations net?
—New York Times, 11 Oct. 2024
Eventually, the one Achilles' heel to the state's green dreams will be the amount of aviation fuel required to bring the visitors who fuel its economy.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024
Free throws are huge again Free-throw shooting continues to be an Achilles' heel for this IU team.
—Zion Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Jan. 2024
The shape of the bag was intentionally placed on the Achilles' heel.
—Venesa Coger, refinery29.com, 11 July 2023
As is often the case, Apple's Achilles' heel is the price of its products.
—Ben Gottesman, PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Achilles' heel
Noun
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Rodriguez walked passed the victims and two other people, then turned to face the victims' backs and fired several times at them, the affidavit said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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The long gray building appears to be an amalgamation of a house and a cafe, back to back.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 May 2025
Noun
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Does Kate Middleton have a soft spot for Prince Harry & Meghan Markle?—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
21 May 2025
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Will Howard had ‘soft spot’ for Pittsburgh Though prospects came from around the country to participate in minicamp, Downingtown, Pa., native Will Howard jumped in his car and made a casual, four-hour drive across the state to join his new team.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Achilles' heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Achilles%27%20heel. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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