LONG SHOT Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

long shot

noun

Definition of long shot

as in dark horse

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

sure thing

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of long shot Some cold cases do eventually thaw…the result of a crisis of conscience or a dying declaration, but in the case of Shergar, sure seems like a long shot. — Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026 Sorsby’s court fight against the NCAA feels like a long shot. — Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Sep. 2026 If the Rangers are fully healthy, Vaakanainen is a long shot to start the season in the lineup after Mike Sullivan trusted him with only 34 games last year, even as the blue line battled injuries. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Former Boston College outside linebacker Quintayvious Hutchins became their final selection at 247th overall, and like most seventh-round picks, Hutchins was immediately cast as a long shot to make the roster. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for long shot

Recent Examples of Synonyms for long shot

Noun

Leaving no pizza stone unturned, the results usually shake out as a healthy mix of the usual suspects and the odd dark horse, with the number one spot on the 2026 list snatched by a first-time world champion in West London.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026
Professional comedian Nate Bargatze, who hosted last year, was much more of a dark horse.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of dark horse

Noun

Florida State finished the game with a 417-248 advantage in yardage on 25 fewer plays.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
After both offenses stalled on their first drives, the Bulldogs scored in three plays, ending with a 43-yard touchdown bomb to Sanfrisco Magee.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of play

Noun

Tight, familial church communities, huddled in isolated villages and small towns; people held in place; a striking lack of privacy and liberty.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
In 1915, Black Civil War veterans called on lawmakers to establish a landmark honoring their contributions to the war effort, often fighting for their own liberty.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of liberty

Browse Nearby Words

longshoremen

long shot

long shots

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Long shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/long%20shot. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of long shot

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

adventitious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes