potshot 1 of 2

verb

Definition of potshotnext
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly The comic ended the show with a rant in which he potshot an assortment of celebrities.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

potshot

2 of 2

noun

as in salvo

Related Words

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 potshot
Noun
No one takes potshots at Washington or Thomas Jefferson or Benjamin Franklin, the usual lineup of Founding Fathers. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 12 Nov. 2025 No, Sean Payton wasn’t throwing a stray potshot at his special teams coordinator. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2025 As evidenced by this weekend’s flurry of festivities around its 50th anniversary, SNL has survived all the potshots. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025 Taking a potshot is a 90-day misdemeanor, plus fines. — Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 6 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for potshot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potshot
  1. attack
  2. salvo
  3. slam
  4. barrage
  5. scold
  6. volley
  7. insult
  8. fusillade
Verb
  • The recent success of a late-stage mRNA cancer vaccine, showing the drug stopped the return of melanoma, has boosted hopes that the approach can be successfully harnessed to attack other cancers.
    — Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In Ohio, Husted has been repeatedly attacked for his role in attracting data centers to Ohio as lieutenant governor.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Its massive elevator bank also ate up too much of the interior, leaving the opening salvo of each show to fend with a shallow exhibition space.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The latest salvo will add to fears in the Gulf that the conflict, which started in February, is far from over.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of salvo
Verb
  • Earlier this month, 51-year-old Ryo Uchimiya, a chef at the famous Japanese restaurant Nobu, was parked on the side of the road waiting for his morning shift when a 16-year-old in a Range Rover slammed into him and killed him.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • When an area on the ground is hit by the eyewall, it will be buffeted by intense winds, then get a break before being slammed by the other side of the eye in a second round of the storm's strongest winds.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of slam
Noun
  • In a second complaint unsealed Wednesday, authorities allege that a few months after the U-Haul incident, a gang member fired a barrage of bullets at a man who owed Argumedo money.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But so far, the company’s barrage of new meal deals and aggressive marketing to promote them have come up short.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of barrage
Verb
  • Others criticized Anderson for seemingly scolding fans and trying to tell them where to sit.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Now the older generation is scolding workers for having a different view on interview etiquette without recognizing the cold reality of today’s job market.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of scold
Noun
  • But the first volley of RTX Spark options are obviously aimed at the high-end side of creators and local AI users.
    — Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Representatives for Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Intercontinental Hotels Group and Loews hotel chains, all targeted in the first volley of lawsuits, did not respond to requests for comment.
    — Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of volley
Verb
  • How odd that your in-laws can call your bed old and ugly, but balk at insulting their neighbor’s castoffs by not using them.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2026
  • For the last two years, Francesca Ortega insulted Latinos on social media with rhetoric that sounded straight from Stephen Miller.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • East and West are once again locked in a life-and-death confrontation, even as Putin fires off a fusillade of threats to launch nuclear missiles against any Western power that comes to Ukraine’s aid.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Iran’s military said the fusillade was a warning.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Definition of fusillade

Browse Nearby Words

pots
potshot
potshots
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Cite this Entry

“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potshot. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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