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
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2025
Or, at the very least, some positive signs that ease Messi’s annoyance, end the slew of disappointing results and give Beckham’s patience some respite from social media potshots by jubilant rivals.
—Martin Rogers, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Instead, Trump took a number of potshots at his sometime opponent during a Tuesday press conference, less than 48 hours after ordering the Bureau of Prisons to reopen Alcatraz
as a federal penitentiary.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 7 May 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, Sean Payton wasn’t throwing a stray potshot at his special teams coordinator.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2025
Or, at the very least, some positive signs that ease Messi’s annoyance, end the slew of disappointing results and give Beckham’s patience some respite from social media potshots by jubilant rivals.
—Martin Rogers, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Instead, Trump took a number of potshots at his sometime opponent during a Tuesday press conference, less than 48 hours after ordering the Bureau of Prisons to reopen Alcatraz
as a federal penitentiary.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 7 May 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
-
Clayton Peavey, 31, used a concrete brick to attack a Chick-fil-A employee in March, leaving her with several gashes on her head and requiring stitches.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Mendoza is accurate to all three levels of the field and has developed a great understanding of when and where to attack down the field.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the opening salvo, the Ducks drew first blood but went into the break trailing, also engaging in a pair of fights.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Jeannie Suk Gersen argues that the verdict represents the opening legal salvo in a fight against one of the central anxieties of our time.—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wembanyama lurched forward, toppled and slammed the right side of his face on the floor.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Their 4-3 advantage set the stage for KC’s bullpen to slam the door.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But a barrage of Stop Sales riddled the contents of the uncool flip- top cooler with raw shrimp, cooked shrimp, egg rolls, tofu, raw beef and beef tendon all measuring at least 12 degrees above 41 degrees.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Curry scored a game-high 35 points, and Al Horford scored 14 for the Warriors, including a barrage of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
McMahon likes to remind scolds that wrestling is a morality play.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Leon scolded Justice Department attorneys for arguing that the entire project needed to go forward for national security reasons, before previously distinguishing between the bunker below ground and the ballroom above ground.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sebastian Berhalter played an arcing free kick to the center of the area and Laborda put away a leaping volley.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Hopkins’ first touch was to gain control of the ball, and her second was a perfect half-volley into the corner of the goal.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Haulcy plays like somebody insulted his family before kickoff.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Trump has threatened to fire Powell a number of times, as well as insulted his character and policies.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While the latest fusillade of ambiguity couldn’t have come at a worse time for the advertising market—brands have yet to register their budgets for the 2026-27 upfront bazaar, in which they’re expected to commit to some $17 billion in broadcast and cable inventory—early sports sales remain brisk.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Fertilizer companies — Shares of fertilizer companies resumed their climb after a tanker was struck near the Strait of Hormuz and Iran launched a fusillade of attacks on the United Arab Emirates' energy infrastructure.—
Fred Imbert,Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potshot. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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