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.

See Examples For:

sweet spot

Siles sees a sweet spot in engaging Gen Z in events that offer in-person connection in a more social, cultural setting.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

“A soft but not too soft number would be the sweet spot for the markets,” Jefferies’ Mohit Kumar said in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Don’t miss: Tax-free bond yields are in a sweet spot.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

This is the sweet spot Osborn is targeting: he hopes to ultimately bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats in the US Senate.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

“But you know as well as I do timings the reason you’ve been finding the sweet spot all year.”

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner

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