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.
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Recent Examples of potshot
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
Thankfully, Cronenberg is less interested in taking potshots at his vapid characters (played by the game likes of Julianne Moore, John Cusack, and Evan Bird channeling Shia LaBeouf) than in unearthing the sadness and madness that gnaws at their superficial dreams.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Soon, the pair are playing long-distance chess, air drumming, and taking competitive potshots at one another’s dishware.
—Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 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
Noun
That and some other issues were indirect potshots at Newsom, who has occasionally bucked the unions.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
Thankfully, Cronenberg is less interested in taking potshots at his vapid characters (played by the game likes of Julianne Moore, John Cusack, and Evan Bird channeling Shia LaBeouf) than in unearthing the sadness and madness that gnaws at their superficial dreams.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Soon, the pair are playing long-distance chess, air drumming, and taking competitive potshots at one another’s dishware.
—Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 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
Verb
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In October alone, shoppers were attacked in a supermarket, a Spanish tourist was scratched by a cub at a heritage site, and a trail runner was forced to wrestle a bear in the woods before sprinting to safety.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles into Israel in response and attacked the Middle East's largest American military base in Qatar.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
California Republicans quickly filed a federal lawsuit in an effort to block a new gerrymandered House map that was proposed by the state’s Democratic leaders and approved by voters this week—marking the latest salvo in the nationwide redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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Everyone is invited to this bacchanal of botox and fire dancers, but everyone seems to understand that this is actually the opening salvo of the war that’s been brewing between Mary and Chrishell’s respective fiefdoms.—
Anne Victoria Clark,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Marshall tossed an overhead pass to Flagg, who slammed in a dunk.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Donald Trump‘s administration has once again been slammed by an artist for using their music without permission, this time receiving a comment from an unhappy Olivia Rodrigo after the White House and Department of Homeland Security shared a video set to one of her songs.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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On Tuesday, the couple closed their store for a week, fearing for the safety of their employees after a barrage of complaints.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
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In the third quarter, Seguin scored twice to extend the scoring barrage to 23-0.—
Cody Thorn,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International (MGI), was seen scolding Fatima Bosch, a 25-year-old contestant from Mexico, ahead of the 74th Miss Universe competition being held in Bangkok later this month.—
Anabella González,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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No doubt many grandmothers will want to scold us, but the truth is, soap isn't going to destroy your cast iron pans.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Yet without a single footwork adjustment, Cherki trots up and nonchalantly whips a half-volley into the top corner.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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Notice how this is an artful volley around the table?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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No woman, under any circumstance, deserves to be insulted or humiliated.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Lee will later pop in to see Dan, the storefront lawyer next door, just to insult him by requesting a recommendation for a good lawyer.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Earle-Sears, who has been lagging in polling, immediately began a one-hour-long fusillade on Spanberger once the debate started.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Oct. 2025
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In retaliation, the Houthis launched a fusillade of ballistic missiles at the Truman, which turned tail and steamed away, causing another Super Hornet to slide off the deck into the ocean.—
Seth Harp,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potshot. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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