soft spot
Americannoun
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a weak or vulnerable position, place, condition, etc..
a soft spot in their fortifications; a soft spot in the economy.
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emotional susceptibility.
a soft spot for dogs and babies.
noun
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A weak or vulnerable point, as in That's the soft spot in his argument . [Mid-1900s]
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have a soft spot for . Have a tender or sentimental feeling for, as in Grandpa had a soft spot for Brian, his first grandson . This expression, first recorded in 1753 as “a soft place in one's heart,” uses soft in the sense of “tender.”
Etymology
Origin of soft spot
An Americanism dating back to 1835–45
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I have a soft spot for people that I think are misunderstood and that go out into the world punching and fighting.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Cincinnati has historically started seasons slowly with Joe Burrow at quarterback, and their offensive line remains the roster’s soft spot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
The “Lover” singer is known to have a very soft spot for her own pets: three cats, named Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 7, 2026
Kimberly agreed, but said while Holland does a "fantastic job" she still has a soft spot for "the OG" Tobey Maguire.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
I must admit, I have a soft spot for her because I’ve read her once and it was her writing that came to me in the dream.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
