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.
The tires have a sweet spot a mile wide.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
This outbreak seems to be in the sweet spot where a really bad outcome is possible if you get infected, but you’re probably going to be OK.
From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026
A sea level "sweet spot" roughly 10 to 40 meters above modern levels produced the strongest carbon burial.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 16, 2026
“For us, the sweet spot is … the customer gets comfy enough that even if they don’t check it, it’s being handled for them just like if they use a human financial adviser,” Norcliffe said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
Now, I'll say I aim for the sweet spot of simplicity and badassery.
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
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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.