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
Not only did Biles rebuke Gaines for saying biological males have no business participating in women’s sports, but Biles also took some personal cheap shots at Gaines.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 June 2025
Edmonton had nothing to do but fight after cheap shots.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2025
Then, Cena kicked out and quickly rebounded with a cheap shot and AA that continued Cena’s improbable heel run.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
That’s okay, no whining (hopefully the cheap shots by Leafs silence the Stolarz criers at least).
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cheap shot
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Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 June 2025
Edmonton had nothing to do but fight after cheap shots.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2025
Then, Cena kicked out and quickly rebounded with a cheap shot and AA that continued Cena’s improbable heel run.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
That’s okay, no whining (hopefully the cheap shots by Leafs silence the Stolarz criers at least).
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 11 May 2025
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 1 Jul. 2025.
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