Synonyms of shoot

shoot 1 of 2

verb

ˈshüt 

1

as in to fire

to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force

BB guns shoot small round metal pellets

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fire
• throw
• launch
• blast
• hurl
• loose
• squeeze off
• discharge
• project
• fling
• sling
• catapult
• cast
• toss
• blaze (at)
• snipe (at)
• lob
• pelt
• heave
• hurtle
• pitch

2

as in to blast

to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force

soldiers train extensively to learn to shoot accurately and quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fire
• blast
• discharge
• pepper
• snipe
• blaze
• potshot
• plink

3

as in to gun

to strike with a missile from a gun

hunters can shoot deer only during the legally specified open season

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gun
• drill
• pop
• kill
• destroy
• drop
• slay
• plug
• slaughter
• blow away
• butcher
• bring down
• fire (at)
• massacre
• shoot down
• pepper
• blast (at)
• blaze
• fell
• pick off
• machine-gun
• dispatch
• shotgun
• snipe (at)
• pistol
• wipe out
• potshot
• annihilate
• decimate
• blot out
• tommy-gun
• ice
• croak
• do in

4

as in to fly

to proceed or move quickly

some show-off shot past all the other skiers on the slope

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fly
• travel
• hurry
• rush
• drive
• race
• speed
• scurry
• chase
• jump
• trot
• run
• scoot
• blow
• zip
• blast
• dart
• zoom
• buzz
• rip
• scuttle
• tear
• bolt
• step
• hurl
• breeze
• jog
• dash
• barrel
• course
• rocket
• ram
• jet
• crack (on)
• career
• hustle
• whirl
• hasten
• blaze
• get a move on
• bowl
• whisk
• motor
• hare
• nip
• beat it
• bundle
• hump
• pelt
• hie
• belt
• bomb
• hurtle
• rustle
• step on it
• careen
• make tracks
• gallop
• highball
• shake a leg
• cannonball
• bustle
• hotfoot (it)
• flit
• scamper
• accelerate
• streak
• sprint
• beetle
• step out
• stampede
• outrun
• overtake
• catch up
• scuffle
• whiz
• quicken
• arrow
• scud
• outpace
• outstrip
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creep
• drag
• crawl
• poke
• hang (around or out)
• linger
• poke
• lag
• loiter
• stroll
• dawdle
• tarry
• saunter
• shuffle
• amble
• slow (down or up)
• lumber
• decelerate
• plod
• dillydally
• dally

5

as in to photograph

to take a photograph of

shooting the lakeside scene while the light lasted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• photograph
• photo
• snap
• film
• retake
• picture
• mug
• videotape
• image
• rephotograph

6

as in to cast

to throw or give off

suddenly the old, broken-down toaster began shooting out sparks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cast
• radiate
• release
• emit
• send (out)
• eliminate
• emanate
• expel
• evolve
• issue
• exhale
• throw out
• irradiate
• discharge
• give out
• vent
• pour
• evacuate
• spray
• erupt
• expire
• excrete
• secrete
• eject
• exude
• squirt
• jet
• ooze
• spurt
• gush
• spew
• spout
• outpour

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• take up
• absorb
• inhale
• soak (up)
• suck (up)
• sponge

7

as in to shout

to voice one's opinions freely with force

you've been wanting to say something since this meeting started, so shoot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shout
• cry
• yell
• call
• speak out
• speak up
• holler
• sound off
• pipe up
• talk up
• spout (off)
• speak one's mind
• bawl
• sing (out)
• roar
• vociferate
• thunder
• bay
• bellow
• articulate
• enunciate
• enounce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppress
• shut up
• hush
• clam up
• quiet
• dummy up
• belt up

8

as in to sprinkle

to mark with small spots especially unevenly

hazel eyes that were brown shot with green

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sprinkle
• dot
• spot
• dye
• pepper
• stain
• marble
• speckle
• blotch
• speck
• fleck
• stipple
• mottle
• freckle
• dapple
• stripe
• splotch
• streak
• blot
• intersperse
• set
• bar
• band
• stud
• spatter
• bespatter

9

as in to send

to cause to go or be taken from one place to another

shot a congratulatory e-mail to his friend as soon as he heard the good news

Synonyms & Similar Words

• send
• ship
• transport
• transmit
• transfer
• pack (off)
• dispatch
• deliver
• consign
• convey
• render
• pass
• launch
• forward
• drop
• give
• return
• import
• export
• present
• address
• contribute
• advance
• donate
• hand over
• bestow
• resend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• receive
• accept
• get
• obtain
• draw
• acquire
• earn
• secure
• gain
• procure
• garner

shoot

2 of 2

noun

1

as in limb

a branch of a main stem especially of a plant

collected the most tender shoots for the vegetable dish he was making

Synonyms & Similar Words

• limb
• sprout
• offshoot
• growth
• outgrowth
• twig
• bud
• bough
• spray
• spur
• excrescence
• branchlet
• floret
• sprig

2

as in ache

a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body

there'd be a shoot of pain from that molar whenever I bit down

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ache
• stitch
• pang
• pain
• tingle
• sting
• prick
• swelling
• smart
• soreness
• twinge
• agony
• sore
• hurt
• throe
• torture
• suffering
• headache
• discomfort
• tenderness
• injury
• inflammation
• distress
• harm
• misery
• anguish
• torment
• sufferance
• damage
• detriment
• gripe
• complaint
• toothache
• backache
• affliction
• charley horse
• colic
• bellyache
• stomachache
• earache

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ease
• comfort
• easiness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shoot

Verb

Lucky’s initial escape through a casino floor is shot predominantly in midrange close-ups, with no experimentation in building tension through unexpected compositions or cuts. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2026

Kareem can also pass, dribble and shoot against switchability defensively. — Hunter Delauder, AJC.com, 15 July 2026

Noun

But hey, at least the CMOs got to snap a selfie with David during the shoot, right? — Shann Biglione, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Those interviewed by Deadline universally praised Nolan’s vision on the project, and then Damon’s determination in carrying that vision through the arduous three-month shoot across six countries on IMAX cameras from start to finish. — Nada Aboul Kheir, Deadline, 6 July 2026

Phrases Containing shoot

• shoot (up)
• shoot at
• shoot down
• shoot for
• shoot the breeze