hamartia

[ hah-mahr-tee-uh ]

Part of Speech noun

Origin + Etymology

Late 18th century; Greek Greek, ‘fault, failure, guilt’; the term was used in Aristotle's Poetics with reference to ancient Greek tragedy

Synonyms

achilles' heel
failing flaw
tragic flaw
weakness

Antonyms

strength

Definition

a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine

Example

The literature teacher challenged her students to find the hamartia in their favorite tragic heroes.

Usage Over Time

#educational

Usage Over Time

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