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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of potshot
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
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
Verb
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He is accused of attacking a 27-year-old man with a beer mug inside the Hula Bar on Saturday night.
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Liv Morgan controversially interrupted Iyo Sky's coronation, attacking her and forcing a tap-out.
Noun
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Another salvo of rekindled patriotic spirit, on the way to the hearts of three hundred and fifty million Americans, was downrange and inbound.
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That's the opening salvo from Andrea Riquier's story on the state of the nation's housing market.
Verb
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As officers came close, the tow truck slammed on its brakes, causing the squad car to collide with the rear of the truck, the source said.
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The fatal hit-and-run occurred less than two hours after a 13-year-old boy was killed riding on the back of a moped in Queens after his friend slammed into an open car door and then careened into a moving truck.
Noun
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Following a barrage of teaser posts over the last couple of weeks, the ever-prolific pop singer has revealed that her official follow-up to 2022’s The Loneliest Time will be a 24-track double LP.
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The strike was part of an overnight barrage of 70 missiles and 611 drones, President Zelensky indicated.
Verb
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This ancient poem isn’t interested in scolding women for their sexuality, but in the establishment of honor in the elite household.
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Davis remembered once being scolded as a teenager by her mother after being caught speaking poorly of a classmate.
Noun
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Deep inside Uzbekistan's penalty area, Ronaldo struck a powerful right-footed volley into the net.
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Lopes notably threw himself in front of a Mikel Oyarzabal volley with just moments to go, a prime example of the back-four’s commitment to defending their goal.
Verb
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Screenshots shared with The Charlotte Observer by Moore show Bogan has repeatedly messaged Reform Stables’ business associates or fellow event organizers with allegations about the stable and Moore, and insulted him online.
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Sigcho-Lopez then turned around to face aldermen sitting in the back row who appeared to be insulting him during the exchange.
Noun
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Iran’s military said the fusillade was a warning.
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Every stentorian chord became a hammer blow, flourishes intensified into fusillades, a tense pause into an apocalypse.
Cite this Entry
“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potshot. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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