as in hamartia
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Recent Examples of tragic flaw
Many people think of parent-child relationships as the most formative ones—the source of attachment styles, daddy issues, tragic flaws.
—
Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2024
The political actors onstage in Milwaukee wore their tragic flaws on their sleeves.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023
That tendency toward self-critique may ultimately have been the tragic flaw of Menand’s midcentury creatives.
—Beverly Gage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Thomas is selfless and fearless in his quest to do good, but his tragic flaws of hubris, stubbornness and self-destructiveness become his undoing.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2023
His obsession proved his tragic flaw.
—Pablo Sandoval, Variety, 3 Oct. 2022
Yet that benefit concealed a tragic flaw.
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 24 Aug. 2022
There’s some tragic flaw there.
—Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2021
Eddie is the Oberyn Martell of Stranger Things: a colorful, big personality with a tragic flaw.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 July 2022
Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2024
The political actors onstage in Milwaukee wore their tragic flaws on their sleeves.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023
That tendency toward self-critique may ultimately have been the tragic flaw of Menand’s midcentury creatives.
—Beverly Gage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Thomas is selfless and fearless in his quest to do good, but his tragic flaws of hubris, stubbornness and self-destructiveness become his undoing.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2023
His obsession proved his tragic flaw.
—Pablo Sandoval, Variety, 3 Oct. 2022
Yet that benefit concealed a tragic flaw.
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 24 Aug. 2022
There’s some tragic flaw there.
—Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2021
Eddie is the Oberyn Martell of Stranger Things: a colorful, big personality with a tragic flaw.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 July 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragic flaw
Noun
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Plus, Rachael has a soft spot for missing children.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2025
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Independent study charter schools are a soft spot in California’s vaccine laws, data show — Was this newsletter forwarded to you?—
Phil Willon,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That, of course, doesn’t go to plan, as Dorian’s pursuit of eternal youth becomes the character’s undoing (and with a bender of Victorian debauchery and eventual murder along the way).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 May 2025
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But despite Paqueta’s qualities, the theatrical side of his game remains his undoing.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragic flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragic%20flaw. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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