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
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2024
The melodramatic Bea often takes potshots at spirited newcomer Ndidi (the deft Aisha Sougou) over coveted customers in some of the play’s funniest moments.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Elsewhere, Trump took his now-familiar potshots at electric vehicle mandates, green energy, and Harris, drawing laughter from the crowd.
—Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 Oct. 2024
Bolstered by hubris and net worth, these billionaires have loudly aligned themselves with their preferred candidate, taken potshots at the opposition, and flogged their personal policy prescriptions—often in feisty social media spats with one another.
—Byalexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potshot
Noun
The high-speed pursuit includes a procession of would-be sharpshooters taking potshots at her, including Yippie & the Kiyays, Sadie the Stabber & the Crazyboys, Rowdy Ricky & the Red Flags, and the mega-jacked Derk Delusional (the One to Outrun).
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2024
The melodramatic Bea often takes potshots at spirited newcomer Ndidi (the deft Aisha Sougou) over coveted customers in some of the play’s funniest moments.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Elsewhere, Trump took his now-familiar potshots at electric vehicle mandates, green energy, and Harris, drawing laughter from the crowd.
—Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 Oct. 2024
Bolstered by hubris and net worth, these billionaires have loudly aligned themselves with their preferred candidate, taken potshots at the opposition, and flogged their personal policy prescriptions—often in feisty social media spats with one another.
—Byalexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potshot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potshot
Verb
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Korematsu was just 22 years old and working hard to expand his family’s flower nursery outside San Francisco when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.—
Lauren Stienstra,
Time,
17 Apr. 2025
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Every American should reject the president's and his cronies' illegitimate use of government power to attack his enemies.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Third, the violent reaction in financial markets that followed Mr. Trump's latest tariff salvo could persuade him to change course.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2025
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But with less than a month left before the vote, Mr. Poilievre will need all of his skills in a race that has been turned upside down by once-unimaginable events: threats to annex Canada from an American president who launched a trade war as a first salvo.—
Norimitsu Onishi,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Paxton and Cornyn have traded barbs back and forth for years, with the attorney general slamming Cornyn’s votes in favor of additional U.S. aid to Ukraine and bipartisan legislation on gun safety following the 2022 Uvalde school shooting.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
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During their drive back to the house, Leo slams on the brakes.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Prior to release, a leaker hacked into the systems of the developers at Naughty Dog and spoiled major plot points from the story months in advance, which fueled a barrage of toxic responses, including death threats, against the creators.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Meanwhile, the Houthis have continued to launch more than a dozen ballistic missiles at Israel, and barrages of drones and missiles at US navy ships.—
Kareem El Damanhoury,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As the report highlighted, culture wars are about both sides attempting to impose their will by personally insulting others who hold opposing viewpoints, seeking ways to cancel the social and professional lifestyles of others, and preventing others from participating in public debates.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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The idea of an entertainer with no political experience who could win people over by insulting opponents and misbehaving hit just too close to home.—
Steve Greene,
IndieWire,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The comments are the latest volley in an escalating battle between the White House and the nation's most prestigious college.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2025
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Forward Michelle Agyemang, who had only entered the match 41 seconds earlier, watched the ball, took one touch to control it with her right thigh, swivelled her hips and smashed a volley into the back of the net.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The White House was reprimanded: A federal judge scolded the Trump administration for failing to try to return the man.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2025
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At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt scolded reporters for not understanding the president’s plans.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s fusillade sparked some normally supportive Republicans to express dissent.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
22 Feb. 2025
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The situation left hundreds of thousands of anxious and confused federal employees, already buffeted by a fusillade of orders over the past few days, with serious decisions to make and sparse information.—
Campbell Robertson,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potshot. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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