potshot

1 of 2

noun

pot·​shot ˈpät-ˌshät How to pronounce potshot (audio)
1
: a shot taken from ambush or at a random or easy target
2
: a critical remark made in a random or sporadic manner

potshot

2 of 2

verb

potshot; potshotting

intransitive verb

: to take a potshot

transitive verb

: to attack or shoot with a potshot

Examples of potshot in a Sentence

Noun A sniper was on the roof taking potshots at passing cars. Verb ended the show with an extended rant in which he potshot an array of personages on the right
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The potshot back in November from Rex Ryan, the former coach and proud Belichick nemesis, is worth revisiting, but only briefly. Tom Brady, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024 In our meeting, Goldberg emphasized that Masimo’s goal with the Freedom watch is to showcase the accuracy of its sensors — not fire potshots at Apple. Victoria Song, The Verge, 18 Jan. 2024 There could be potshots in the form of suicidal fast boats or explosive-carrying cardboard drones that could avoid radar detection, Mr. Ullman points out. Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2023 For New York Democrats, what to do about Eric Adams has become a persistent topic: How does a campaign address the fact that one of the area’s most prominent Democrats is taking constant potshots at the president, the national leader of the party, ahead of what will be a razor-thin election? Max Rivlin-Nadler, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2023 But as Lincoln Riley and USC prepared to share the stage Saturday with Sanders and Colorado, there were no potshots, no sarcastic slights, no bulletin board material of any kind. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023 Could the loss — and their coach’s words — be enough motivation for Colorado players previously powered by potshots? Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023 The former president has consistently downplayed the importance of primary debates for his campaign given his yawning polling lead, saying appearing on stage would only give candidates with less support the chance to take potshots at him. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2023 Payton wasn’t aiming another potshot at his predecessor, however, just expressing his disdain for players who don the hats on the sideline after their day is done. The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'potshot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from the notion that such a shot is unsportsmanlike and worthy only of one whose object is to fill the cooking pot

First Known Use

Noun

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1913, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of potshot was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near potshot

Cite this Entry

“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potshot. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

potshot

noun
pot·​shot
ˈpät-ˌshät
1
: a shot taken in a casual manner or at an easy target
2
: a critical remark made in a random manner

More from Merriam-Webster on potshot

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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