sweet spot
Americannoun
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Sports. the spot on a club, racket, bat, etc., where a ball is most effectively hit.
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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.
noun
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.
"There's no choice between things like IP protection and AI, or economic growth and growing AI. You've got to get the sweet spot where you get them both in the same place," McDonald said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
The researchers then continued testing different conditions until they identified a "sweet spot" involving temperature and ammonia pressure.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
Tirtha Dhar, a marketing professor who studies consumer choice at the University of Guelph in Canada, says cold drinks have become a "sweet spot" for Starbucks' bottom line.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Although it has done well in its sweet spot, it could face the headwinds that many hot brands do as they struggle to grow beyond their hardcore fans and remain relevant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
The material is right in his sweet spot: a drama about human interaction, conflict, and betrayal.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
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.
