cross fire
noun
1
a
: firing (as in combat) from two or more points so that the lines of fire cross
b
: a situation wherein the forces of opposing factions meet, cross, or clash
caught in a political cross fire
2
: rapid or heated exchange of words
Synonyms
Examples of cross fire in a Sentence
viewers tune in to witness the weekly cross fire between the liberal and conservative commentators
Recent Examples on the Web
Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the cross fire.
—
USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024
Their car escaped only because Gal pushed the driver’s head down to avoid being hit by the intense cross fire.
—David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
The consequence is that others are caught in the great-power cross fire or will seek to start fires of their own.
—Paul Poast, The Atlantic, 17 Nov. 2023
But most DDoS attacks were less principled: the constant AK-47 cross fire of the cybercriminal internet’s internecine wars and vandalism.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023
Thousands of wealthy Arabs left in anticipation of war, thousands more responded to Arab leaders’ call to get out of the way of the advancing armies, a handful were expelled, but most simply fled to avoid being caught in the cross fire of battle.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 15 May 2023
For two months they were trapped in their house, without electricity, windows shattered, caught in the cross fire of constant shelling.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022
That work is possible thanks to an exception in California’s penal code that specifically carves out privileges for journalists to cross fire lines.
—Grant Stringer, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug. 2022
Caught in the cross fire, the FDA and CDC issued a series of seemingly contradictory communications about who should be signing up for extra shots and when.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 June 2022
USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024
Their car escaped only because Gal pushed the driver’s head down to avoid being hit by the intense cross fire.
—David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
The consequence is that others are caught in the great-power cross fire or will seek to start fires of their own.
—Paul Poast, The Atlantic, 17 Nov. 2023
But most DDoS attacks were less principled: the constant AK-47 cross fire of the cybercriminal internet’s internecine wars and vandalism.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023
Thousands of wealthy Arabs left in anticipation of war, thousands more responded to Arab leaders’ call to get out of the way of the advancing armies, a handful were expelled, but most simply fled to avoid being caught in the cross fire of battle.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 15 May 2023
For two months they were trapped in their house, without electricity, windows shattered, caught in the cross fire of constant shelling.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022
That work is possible thanks to an exception in California’s penal code that specifically carves out privileges for journalists to cross fire lines.
—Grant Stringer, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug. 2022
Caught in the cross fire, the FDA and CDC issued a series of seemingly contradictory communications about who should be signing up for extra shots and when.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 June 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cross fire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cross fire
Cite this Entry
“Cross fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross%20fire. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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