as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
viewers tune in to witness the weekly cross fire between the liberal and conservative commentators
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cross fire
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
See All Example Sentences for 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
See All Example Sentences for cross fire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cross fire
Noun
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Before the dispute, the Shinawatras and the Huns of Cambodia — two of Southeast Asia’s most influential political dynasties — had enjoyed close personal relations for decades.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
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The dispute has influenced Paramount’s approach to a lawsuit accusing it of deceptively editing an interview with Kamala Harris.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
30 June 2025
Noun
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At Monday’s arraignment, when prosecutors revealed the details of the altercation, a judge ordered Horsman to be held without bail.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
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In a now-viral recording of the altercation posted to Reddit, Perry is seen grabbing the other passenger's hair.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Noun
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The quarrel exploded Thursday, leading to a public back and forth on X, formerly Twitter.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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This was just one of many quarrels between the two that grew more frequent.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Social Security has become a lightening rod for controversy since Trump’s inauguration in January.—
Alicia Adamczyk,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
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The controversy in Spain echoes similar issues in Portugal, where Rabbi Daniel Litvak of Oporto was arrested in 2022 amid investigations into fraudulent citizenship applications linked notably to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.—
Orge Castellano,
Sun Sentinel,
7 July 2025
Noun
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With no deadline spurring action and the clear potential for disagreement on valuation, this staring contest could go on for a while.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
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Every couple has disagreements, but in my experience, not in such a public way.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
4 July 2025
Noun
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The result of that fight was Paul's first and only pro loss, dropping a split decision to Fury.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Then, in 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that federal courts do not have a role to play in deciding legal fights over partisan gerrymandering, when state's voting lines are drawn to entrench the political party in power.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
Noun
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The murder trial was set to begin next month, starting with jury selection on Aug. 4, and opening arguments two weeks later.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
1 July 2025
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That argument has caught the attention of the Trump administration.—
Daniel Ackerman,
NPR,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Reports have suggested the show will feature a larger card than usual, with seven to eight matches and a battle royal.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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Elijah entered into a battle royal match to determine the No. 1 contender for the NXT Championship, currently held by Oba Femi.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cross fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cross%20fire. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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