crosshair
noun
cross·hair
ˈkrȯs-ˌher 
: a fine wire or thread in the focus of the eyepiece of an optical instrument used as a reference line in the field or for marking the instrumental axis
—used figuratively to describe someone or something being targeted as if through an aiming device having crosshairs
The tactics landed the company's top brass in the crosshairs of the Securities and Exchange Commission.—
Houston Chronicle
Houston ChronicleExamples of crosshair in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
OhioHealth is the latest nonprofit health system to find itself in the government’s crosshairs for allegedly using its market power to suppress competition and drive up costs.
—Tara Bannow, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
The Canadian women’s curling team was the latest to be put in the crosshairs at the Winter Olympics as they were determined to have committed the same violation as their male colleagues.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
The broadside rippled across corporate America as companies accelerated efforts to scale back or scrap DEI programs that could put them in the president’s crosshairs.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crosshair
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Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
OhioHealth is the latest nonprofit health system to find itself in the government’s crosshairs for allegedly using its market power to suppress competition and drive up costs.
—Tara Bannow, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
The Canadian women’s curling team was the latest to be put in the crosshairs at the Winter Olympics as they were determined to have committed the same violation as their male colleagues.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
The broadside rippled across corporate America as companies accelerated efforts to scale back or scrap DEI programs that could put them in the president’s crosshairs.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crosshair
Cite this Entry
“Crosshair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crosshair. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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