Definify.com

Definition 2024


kryptonite

kryptonite

English

Noun

kryptonite (uncountable)

  1. (figuratively) The one weakness of something or someone that is otherwise invulnerable, an Achilles heel.
    • 1991 October 25, Bryan Miller, “Restaurants: John Clancy's”, in New York Times:
      The terrific seven-grain bread here is the kryptonite of restaurant reviewers: two mini-loaves and you are incapacitated.
    • 2006 March 25, Jonathan Leggett, “Cult musicians”, in The Guardian:
      So while recording or sampling a Charlie Manson track [] makes for shock rock kudos aplenty, a devotion to Hubbard is kryptonite for credibility.

Translations