as in chance
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in musket
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 shotgun
Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021
Lunch and registration begin at 11 a.m., with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start.
—Post-Tribune, 7 July 2017
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The man was later detained by police, who removed ammunition magazines and shotgun shells from his vehicle.
—Thomas Beaumont, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shotgun
Adjective
In 2019, in non-shotgun formations, Jackson had 19 drop-backs and combined with Ravens running backs for 27 carries, according to Sports Info Solutions.
—Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 3 June 2021
Lunch and registration begin at 11 a.m., with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start.
—Post-Tribune, 7 July 2017
Noun
Martin's cousin, Braeden Fields, spoke to The Associated Press about the shotgun-wielding 21-year-old.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The man was later detained by police, who removed ammunition magazines and shotgun shells from his vehicle.
—Thomas Beaumont, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Westman had decorated the assault rifle and shotgun with hate speech in ways that aligned with the dark underbelly of alt-right meme culture that regularly disparages people of color, Jewish people, the LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shotgun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shotgun
Noun
-
Then the French started to standardize their muskets.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
-
His 134 men were armed with musket, cartridge pouch, and sword in case of a hostile encounter, and the Africaansche Galey lay close by with a couple of small cannon brought forward on the bow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Without a clear presentation to Congress or a formal address to the nation, the administration's communication has been scattershot and intermittent, leaving Americans with the task of piecing it all together.—
Justin Fishel,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But that would require speaking with one voice, and their scattershot outreach to China makes that difficult.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Johnson and a woman in the apartment at the time of the search, Melissa Lincks-Morpeau, 44, of Boston, were both arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and unlawful possession of ammunition.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In accordance with department policy, the officer who fired his firearm has been placed on administrative leave while Internal Affairs conducts an administrative investigation.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Baker said Wednesday the bill’s life sentence provision would not include cases where a reckless or drunken driver caused the accidental death of an officer.—
Marta Zherukha,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
However, prosecutors say Lee’s questions did not accurately describe the bloody scene or his girlfriend’s body, which showed multiple injuries and blunt force trauma that could not be explained by an accidental fall and instead indicated a violent struggle.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With feverish speed and characteristic blunderbuss, President Donald Trump has given the federal government – and himself – unprecedented control over private economic decisions.—
Matthew Mitchell,
Twin Cities,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Trump would also stop treating the Europeans as enemies with his blunderbuss tariffs.—
Trudy Rubin,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Police said three of the guns had been reported stolen, and one handgun was equipped with a machine-gun conversion device.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Their recording was a kinetic thrashathon with machine-gun-fast guitar notes and solos and Hetfield’s convincing screams for mercy.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Fitzsimmons will still be subject to alcohol checks and random home inspections by probation officers.—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And then something random comes up and have to pause.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Players can acquire four melee weapons — a katana, a spear, knuckles and a heavy sword — and four firearms — a pistol, a machine gun, a shotgun and a rocket launcher.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Lamont’s four-page measure, known as House Bill 5043, would outlaw the future sale, manufacturing, purchase, and importation of the convertible pistols in Connecticut.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shotgun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shotgun. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
