kryptonite
One's soft spot
Kryptonite is a fictional radioactive mineral from the Superman comics, deadly to the otherwise invulnerable hero.
In everyday use, kryptonite means someone's fatal weakness or vulnerability—the one thing that can defeat them despite their strengths: Chocolate is my kryptonite.
His ex-wife was his kryptonite.
The metaphor works because it suggests an otherwise capable person undone by a single, specific susceptibility. (Capitalized Kryptonite is the original trademarked form.)
Singular fatal vulnerability
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- susceptibilityLiability to influence
- soft spotEmotional vulnerability or fondness
- underbellyVulnerable lower surface
liability · limitation · shortcoming · deficiency · fragility · nemesis · downfall · undoing
Achilles heel
Singular fatal vulnerability
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- susceptibilityLiability to influence
- soft spotEmotional vulnerability or fondness
underbelly · liability · limitation · shortcoming · deficiency · fragility · nemesis · downfall · undoing · bane
- Fictional Materialsadamantine, mithril, unobtainium, unobtanium, dilithium
- Sci-Fi/Fantasywand, spell, potion, rune, incantation
- comic book itemscape, mask, shield, hammer, utility belt
- comic tropessecret identity, origin story, superpowers, sidekick, supervillain
- exotic materialsadamantium, vibranium, mithril, unobtainium, dilithium
- comic book soundspow, bam, wham, zap, kapow
kryptoniteyellow sun
Our star's common appearance
strength · spinach · power-up · solar radiation · superpower
kryptoniteinvulnerability
Immunity to all damage
invincibility · armor · shield · immunity · impenetrability
kryptonitesuperpower
Dominant nation or magical ability
strong suit · forte · strength · ace in the hole · trump card