sweet spot

American

[sweet spot] / ˈswit ˌspɒt /

noun

Sports. the spot on a club, racket, bat, etc., where a ball is most effectively hit.
a point, range, or particular set of conditions that will achieve the most desirable or effective outcome.

The trick is finding the sweet spot between making the puzzle challenging but not impossible.

sweet spot British

noun

sport the centre area of a racquet, golf club, etc, from which the cleanest shots are made

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sweet spot

First recorded in 1920–25

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.

That’s right in the sweet spot, according to experts — making investors money without the company leaving too much funding that it could have raised on the table.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026

“The data center folks have found a sweet spot in the state that has limited regulations,” said Hill County Commissioner Jim Holcomb.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

Her view was that hackers like her were in a "in a sweet spot" where AI was an aid.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

Like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, it’s in the sweet spot of the chip cycle, boosting prices, profits and their stock.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

“Yes. It’s tricky work. The shark is a moving target and you really need to get that tag right at the sweet spot at the base of the dorsal fin.”

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023