in the crosshairs

phrase

: being aimed at by a gun (such as a rifle) that has an aiming device with crosshairs
often used figuratively
The senator's voting record was in the crosshairs of his political rivals.

Cite this Entry

“In the crosshairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20crosshairs. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster