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
  • Talarico has attacked Ken Paxton over his long list of scandals in several campaign ads.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Saudi authorities later said King Fahd International Airport in Dammam also had been attacked, with few details.
    — SAMY MAGDY, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Last week, my one major complaint about Cupertino’s opening salvo was that its big case was a little simplistic and devoid of clever lawyering.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The latest salvo is a two-week ad campaign launching Thursday in the Atlanta and Macon markets, the first broadcast buy of its kind for the caucus.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of salvo
Verb
  • Modeling work suggests the duo will keep orbiting our star for millions of years before ultimately slamming into either Earth or Venus.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Kim Bruno Espinosa slammed ICE at the press conference and accused the agency of misidentifying the man with Parra.
    — Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of slam
Noun
  • Young men from the village pushed the settlers back with a barrage of stones, allowing Khrzhanovskiy and Nathaniel to run to Levine and guide her toward the village.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Jose Cabrera, was standing at the front entrance of the club when the barrage of bullets began flying.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of barrage
Verb
  • By the time his daughter shows up, flanked by her mom and upright dentist stepdad, Lee’s moved on from scolding the room to thanking his mother for believing him.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • District of Columbia Judge Ana Reyes angrily scolded government attorneys in a hearing to block the government from cutting down more trees at East Potomac Golf Course.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of scold
Noun
  • Gates says Washburn’s petition is a first volley in an attempt to discredit and then defund the Wildlife Council.
    — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Zaroury scored in the 63rd minute to give Columbus a 2-1 lead and Habroune bounced a volley over the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, off the crossbar and into the net to cap the scoring about 2 minutes later.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of volley
Verb
  • The league suspended Greenlaw, determining his aggressive post-game behavior violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(b), which strictly prohibits the use of abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures toward game officials.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Jewish critics accused Mamdani of insulting victims and fueling antisemitism, while pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a Manhattan vigil to denounce him for not doing enough to hold Israel accountable.
    — Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 2026.

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