shoot on sight

phrase

: to immediately shoot (someone) one sees
The guards were ordered to shoot on sight anyone who tried to escape.

Examples of shoot on sight in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
State game wardens are authorized to shoot on sight wild bighorns that contact domestic sheep. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for shoot on sight

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Browse Nearby Words

shoot oneself in the foot
shoot on sight
shoot-out
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Cite this Entry

“Shoot on sight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoot%20on%20sight. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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