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
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
Key bandmembers Waters and David Gilmour (pictured above right and left, respectively, in the early 1970s), have been feuding for decades, taking public potshots at each other while recently trying to find enough common ground to close a deal.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for potshot 
Noun
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
Key bandmembers Waters and David Gilmour (pictured above right and left, respectively, in the early 1970s), have been feuding for decades, taking public potshots at each other while recently trying to find enough common ground to close a deal.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for potshot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potshot
Verb
-
The mob attacked the sick and elderly and raped multiple women, according to the report.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
-
Government officials and local civil society leaders didn't immediately comment, though Congo's Communications Ministry said the rebels had violated ceasefire agreements and attacked Congolese troops working to avoid urban warfare and violence in Bukavu.—
JUSTIN KABUMBA,
arkansasonline.com,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The probationary layoffs are the latest salvo in the new administration's sweeping efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce, which are being led by billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
arkansasonline.com,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The intrigue: What looks like an opening salvo might be an effort to extract what the White House considers more favorable trade conditions, though advisors have also said the tariffs would help raise government revenues.—
Courtenay Brown,
Axios,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Winter weather wreaks havoc across country A parade of winter storms may cause chaos across the Midwest and East this week, with two major storms expected to slam the regions with paralyzing snow and ice, including a big blast to the nation's capital.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Letterman then rejected the chance to tell some jokes after combing through the cue cards, and instead agreed to film a Tortilla Challenge TikTok video that involved repeatedly slamming Fallon in the face with tortillas.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
That’s what the office of state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, has been working hard to do after a barrage of phone calls from terrified individuals.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2025
-
With hours dwindling for workers to decide whether or not to quit, agency officials held last-minute meetings to walk their teams through a dizzying barrage of emails detailing the offer to leave their jobs — and to urge them to take the deal.—
Michael C. Bender,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Paddington will feel like two families are better than one, Mary will stare down the oncoming existential crisis of the empty nest, nobody will feel like the country of Peru has been insulted, the bad guys get their comeuppance and the good guys save the day.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The storyline of Bill’s death introduced the character of his mother, Bonnie, who became Season 4’s top antagonist with her insensitive comments, including bluntly making Isaac’s secret public without his consent, fighting Maddie on the funeral arrangements and insulting Ty.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The quick-fire volley of tariffs between the U.S. and China in recent days has heightened global fears of a new trade war between the world's two largest economies.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2025
-
When the miles-long chase reached an end on Bailey Avenue, the three were bracing themselves as Velasquez rammed them with his own truck, then fired a volley of gunshots.—
Robert Salonga,
The Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
At one point, an appalled Robinson came outside to scold her daughter.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
13 Feb. 2025
-
On the other side of the FaceTime call is none other than Set It Off star Vivica Fox, who scolds Glo for sleeping in.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
That Donald Trump’s first-day fusillade of executive orders included the declaration of a national energy emergency wasn’t all that shocking given his intensity level on everything from birthright citizenship to mass deportation.—
Jan Ellen Spiegel,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Beijing responded swiftly on Tuesday to the tariffs President Trump had promised, announcing a fusillade of countermeasures targeting American companies and imports of critical products.—
Ana Swanson,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to potshot
Thesaurus Entries Near potshot
Cite this Entry
“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potshot. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share