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
  • Spain’s front men are difficult to ignore Despite only one attacking return, Lamine Yamal ($10m) is still Spain’s most exciting fantasy option.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The tourist who was attacked by a bison on Friday at Yellowstone National Park is recovering after being flung into the air.
    — Zoe Cummings, Washington Post, 13 July 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • However, strikes were reported as far north as Semnan, just east of Tehran and home to a ballistic missile complex, pointing to a broader range of locations than in previous salvoes.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • As my colleague Meg James reported, the legal salvo is an 11th-hour effort to stop the merger that is poised to reshape Hollywood and the media business.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of salvo
Verb
  • The beach hazard statements have been in effect mainly due to the strong southerly swells brought by storms that have been ongoing in the south Pacific, sending waves of energy that slam into the West Coast.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 July 2026
  • Prosecutors said Tran thought the truck had cut him off and became angry, catching up in his Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and then pulling in front of it and twice slamming on his brakes.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of slam
Noun
  • The defense attorneys argued Harris fired the first shots that killed Payton friend Turner and set off the barrage that led to the deaths of bystanders Martinez, Alexander, and Davis.
    — Darrell Smith July 16, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
  • Rocky Graziano scores a technical knockout with a barrage of 30 punches against Tony Zale in the sixth round to win the world middleweight boxing title.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of barrage
Verb
  • Remake includes footage of Adrian urging his father to consider Carr’s offer, and gently scolding him for having passed up certain opportunities to make money—money that would have made the family's life better—off his filmmaking acumen.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
  • In February, a California judge reportedly scolded Meta’s own lawyers for wearing the smart glasses in court.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026
Definition of scold
Noun
  • England was superb with its back to the wall, first holding out volleys of Argentina attacks then, restored to 14 men and finally to full strength, scoring tries through Marcus Smith and Manny Feyi-Waboso to seal its win.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • With seven minutes left in extra time, Gotze did just that, chesting down a cross, then lobbing a volley into the net for the game’s only score, giving Germany its first title since Klinsmann’s team in 1990.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of volley
Verb
  • Outside, the guards were often genial and chatty; inside, visitors were treated as objects of suspicion, barked at and insulted.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • Platner insulted members of the military and belittled Bronze Star winners.
    — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • Iran’s military said the fusillade was a warning.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • The world now knew that the Biden administration had offered to evacuate Zelenskyy from Kyiv as invading Russian forces closed in on Ukraine's capital following a savage fusillade of airstrikes on cities and military bases around Ukraine.
    — James LaPorta, CBS News, 21 May 2026
Definition of fusillade

Browse Nearby Words

pots
potshot
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Cite this Entry

“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potshot. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of potshot for Spanish Speakers

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