cheap shot
noun
1
: an act of deliberate roughness against a defenseless opponent especially in a contact sport
taking cheap shots at the quarterback
2
: a critical statement that takes unfair advantage of a known weakness of the target
Examples of cheap shot in a Sentence
He took a cheap shot at the quarterback.
a cheap shot to the back of the head
The remark about his weight was a cheap shot.
Recent Examples on the Web
This time, Rousey appeared to align herself with The Death Riders and Shafir got a cheap shot on Storm after losing to her.
—
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
The six-episode first season of The Madison, which has already been renewed, is really a 120-minute premium cable-style pilot padded out with Sheridan’s New York City cheap shots.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
More deep thoughts & cheap shots • San Francisco Giants fans will keep an eye on Tatsuya Imai.
—Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
These weren’t exactly cheap shots — all of them traveled at least 354 feet off the bat.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheap shot
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Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
The six-episode first season of The Madison, which has already been renewed, is really a 120-minute premium cable-style pilot padded out with Sheridan’s New York City cheap shots.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
More deep thoughts & cheap shots • San Francisco Giants fans will keep an eye on Tatsuya Imai.
—Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
These weren’t exactly cheap shots — all of them traveled at least 354 feet off the bat.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheap shot
Cite this Entry
“Cheap shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheap%20shot. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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