as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
The comic ended the show with a rant in which he potshot an assortment of celebrities.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of potshot
Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
In Jackpot!, the potshots at the public at large are contrivances and conveniences — cheap shots designed to sell us on the film’s uninspired action high jinks and its clangingly dull comedy.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2024
Elsewhere, Trump took his now-familiar potshots at electric vehicle mandates, green energy, and Harris, drawing laughter from the crowd.
—Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 Oct. 2024
Bolstered by hubris and net worth, these billionaires have loudly aligned themselves with their preferred candidate, taken potshots at the opposition, and flogged their personal policy prescriptions—often in feisty social media spats with one another.
—Byalexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potshot
Noun
The melodramatic Bea often takes potshots at spirited newcomer Ndidi (the deft Aisha Sougou) over coveted customers in some of the play’s funniest moments.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
In Jackpot!, the potshots at the public at large are contrivances and conveniences — cheap shots designed to sell us on the film’s uninspired action high jinks and its clangingly dull comedy.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2024
Elsewhere, Trump took his now-familiar potshots at electric vehicle mandates, green energy, and Harris, drawing laughter from the crowd.
—Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 Oct. 2024
Bolstered by hubris and net worth, these billionaires have loudly aligned themselves with their preferred candidate, taken potshots at the opposition, and flogged their personal policy prescriptions—often in feisty social media spats with one another.
—Byalexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potshot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potshot
Verb
-
This was a departure from Mourinho and Conte, who both moaned about investment, attacked the club culture, exited unceremoniously, and bad-mouthed them afterward.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
By the way, it was attacked from the Pentagon and from the White House as being fake news that this was going to happen and Elon Musk denounced the leak.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
To be sure, such disruption could bolster stocks if Mr. Trump were to reverse course on his salvo of tariffs set to be deployed next month.—
Anne Marie Lee,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Ibsen saw an individual’s self-determination as a remedy for bourgeois hypocrisy, the first salvo of liberation.—
Helen Shaw,
The New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Ruffin was quick with her answer, slamming the Republican party for her removal from the WHCA dinner.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The Kings lost nine of their last 12 games to open the door for the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference play-in race, but that door might have slammed shut Sunday.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Oscar Wilde’s infamous antihero Dorian Gray probably would’ve loved to have a barrage of cameras pointed at him, reflecting his gorgeous visage.—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Walker Kessler’s 3-point barrage Words soften over time.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Had the supporter unloaded some scathing abuse, said something demeaning about his appearance, or insulted his family, such a reaction would have been warranted.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
The exultant right-wing influencers who cheer on MAGA’s sassy clapback anti-diplomacy should remember that insulting another country’s politicians is like insulting someone else’s family.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
From economic downturns and socio-political grief to health issues and personal losses, life throws a volley of challenges our way.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Then there were the drop shots, the drive volleys, the tricky, left-handed slice serve.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
On Wednesday, the couple jokingly addressed the awkward interview in which Hilaria scolded Alec for interrupting her during a red carpet moment that has since gone viral.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
Fox News,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Omari Hardwick scolded an interviewer who misquoted him in a seeming attempt to stir up drama between the actor and Power producer 50 Cent.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
And finally, in January 1972, several dozen people were injured in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh when hundreds of troops across the city let off a fusillade of bullets at a total eclipse of the moon.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Mar. 2025
-
To minimize the unending fusillade of Trump’s first weeks in office, to choose to turn away, to shut off the news, is to indulge in self-soothing.—
David Remnick,
The New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potshot. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share