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
  • Investigators determined that a group of men had attacked him at his San Jose home and that one of them struck him in the face with the handle of a firearm, police said.
    — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
  • Refineries are maxed out, especially after Iran attacked 30 Middle Eastern refineries during the course of the war.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 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
  • Over the past several months, Taylor has accused Mortensen in court of stalking and, on one occasion, slamming her head into the dashboard of his truck.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
  • Skid marks showing that Medina slammed on his brakes and rapidly accelerated backward were also spotted.
    — Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 19 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
  • There isn’t a positive review in sight as the finders rip through strongly worded and insulting critiques from major music publications.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • In June 2022, Cuban authorities sentenced Otero Alcántara to five years in prison on charges including public disorder, contempt and insulting national symbols.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 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
potshots
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Cite this Entry

“Potshot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potshot. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of potshot for Spanish Speakers

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