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shot

shot

83 5.9
A short angry remark meant to hurt or criticize someone
  • noun
  • /ʃɑt/
  • Offensive
: insulto
  • That's a cheap shot, Walter.
  • a cheap shot
  • a parting shot

I mean, he's taken bigger shots at much more violent people.

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Examples

  • Yeah, and maybe you're not such a big shot either!

  • One isn't as quick to take a shot at a king or a queen.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Marcus gets a promotion, starts taking shots at the CEO.

  • Okay, Mr. Big Shot, why'd you turn yourself in?

  • Tigers from both sides rush in to prevent any cheap shots, and the fight is over.

    Academic text (2008)
  • In him, another way had begun; even he must have gotten a shot of that old European drive westward.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • What kind of organization would try to blast Phil's reputation with this cheap shot fired under the radar?

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The comedian's sharp shot at his rival had the audience laughing and gasping.

  • During the debate, the candidate's shot at his opponent's record was met with applause.

  • Critics fired a shot at the film, calling it predictable and boring.

Synonyms

dig
vsshot
  • Offensive
33 8.1

A short sarcastic remark that criticizes someone

is generally more directly aggressive and may lack wit or humour
thrust
vsshot
23 6.7

A pointed remark meant to hurt or criticize

is broader and focuses on aggressive hurt rather than only a jab
barb
vsshot
  • Offensive
13 6.4

A short sharp remark meant to hurt or criticize someone

is not only sharp but emphasizes aggression and general criticism
cut
vsshot
  • Offensive
12 7.0

A sharp remark that is meant to hurt someone's feelings

is broader, focusing on active aggression rather than just emotional sting
aspersion
vsshot
12 9.8

A remark that says bad things about someone to hurt their reputation

is focused on personal hurt or criticism rather than reputation damage
knock
vsshot
  • Informal
10 5.3

A remark that criticizes someone or something in a negative way

is more aggressive and meant to hurt rather than merely to criticize
put-down
vsshot
  • Offensive
9 6.6

A remark that makes someone feel small or embarrassed

is broader, covering aggressive critical remarks not only brief humiliation
potshot
vsshot
  • Informal
8 7.2

A quick, unfair criticism aimed at an easy target

is more deliberate aggression rather than a thoughtless or easy remark
slam
vsshot
  • Offensive
8 6.3

An insulting remark meant to hurt someone

is a general label for aggressive remarks aimed to hurt or criticize
nasty comment
vsshot
  • Offensive
6 3.5

A rude remark that hurts or upsets someone

is more strongly framed as a directed aggressive criticism rather than general nastiness
takedown
vsshot
  • Offensive
5 7.7

A sharp remark that humiliates someone in an argument

is often less debate-focused and can be any aggressive hurtful remark
jibe
vsshot
  • Offensive
4 7.9

An insulting remark meant to hurt someone

is more generally aggressive and can be serious as well as mocking
slam on
vsshot
  • Informal
2 8.2

A strong attack in words on a person or group

is the general label for aggressive critical remarks beyond public attacks
shaft
vsshot
  • Offensive
2 7.5

A sharp remark that criticizes someone in a not direct way

is usually direct aggression rather than indirect or veiled criticism
insulting remark
vsshot
  • Offensive
1 3.2

A rude comment meant to hurt someone or show no respect

is an aggressive critical comment aimed specifically to hurt someone
squelch
vsshot
  • Offensive
1 8.8

A sharp remark that stops someone speaking and shames them

is broader and may not aim to silence but to attack or hurt
slam against
vsshot
  • Offensive
1 7.9

A strong criticism that attacks a person or idea

is broader, including many forms of aggressive remarks not only attacks
brickbat
vsshot
  • Offensive
1 9.3

A sharp insulting remark about someone or their actions

is not necessarily blunt and covers aggressive remarks of many styles
catty remark
vsshot
  • Offensive
1 7.4

A mean comment that aims to hurt someone

is broader and can be openly aggressive beyond petty social spite
caustic remark
vsshot
  • Offensive
1 7.2

A harshly critical comment that aims to hurt or mock someone

is less about sarcasm and more about outright aggressive criticism
sharp-edged comment
vsshot
  • Offensive
6.6

A remark that is harsh and meant to hurt someone's feelings

is similar but stresses direct aggression and hostile intent more
vitriolic remark
vsshot
  • Offensive
8.9

A very harsh and angry comment meant to hurt someone

is similar but generally less intensely bitter and destructive in tone
slagging comment
vsshot
  • Offensive
8.7

A rude remark that criticizes or insults someone

is not limited to public insult and may include private aggressive remarks

Antonyms

300 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

Idioms

worth a shot
  • Informal
24 4.8

Good to try something even if it may not work

by a long shot
  • Informal
18 4.1

By a much larger amount than others

An early warning action or comment showing a stronger response may follow

like a shot
  • Informal
3 6.0

Very quickly and without hesitation

2 5.7

To rise very quickly to a much higher level

To guess or try something without much information

1 9.9

To say something quickly without thinking

To leave a place very quickly

Compounds

big shot
  • Informal
79 3.9

A person who is important and powerful in a job or field

long shot
  • Informal
63 4.6

An unlikely attempt that is still worth trying

best shot
  • Informal
59 3.2

A try using all your effort

31 4.1

A photograph of a person's face taken by police after arrest to identify them

cheap shot
  • Informal
20 5.2

An unfair comment that attacks someone who cannot defend themselves

16 2.7

A basketball shot made while you jump and let go of the ball at the top

12 1.8

A small glass that holds one small drink of strong alcohol like whiskey or tequila

6 2.7

A track and field event where athletes throw a heavy metal ball as far as possible

parting shot
  • Informal
4 7.4

A final sharp remark you say as you leave to hurt or surprise someone

4 6.5

A person who hits targets very accurately with a gun

one shot
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A single bullet and its case ready to be fired from a gun

3 2.7

A photo taken at the best moment that shows the main thing in the picture clearly

3 3.9

Two equal servings of alcohol or strong coffee served together

cheap shot
  • NSFW
3 5.6

An unfair physical attack on a player, often after the play stops

long shot
  • Informal
3 4.6

A person or thing unlikely to win in a competition

2 3.7

A single firing of a rifle that makes a loud sound

2 3.4

An athlete who throws a heavy ball called a shot in competitions

booster shot
  • Specialized
2 2.9

An extra vaccine dose you get after the first to make protection stronger

bird shot
  • Specialized
2 5.8

Small round lead pellets used in shotgun shells to hunt small birds

1 2.7

A swing of a golf club to hit the ball

hook shot
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A basketball shot made by sweeping the arm and releasing the ball high with the hand farthest from the basket

approach shot
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A short golf shot hit to land the ball on the putting green

foul shot
  • Specialized
1 2.6

A free throw in basketball taken from the line when an opponent breaks the rules

1 7.9

A very ambitious project that is unlikely to succeed

1 3.5

A basketball shot where a player jumps and pushes the ball down into the hoop with one or both hands

one shot
  • Specialized
1 8.4

Able to learn something new from a single example

round shot
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A solid metal ball used in cannons in the past

An attempt to score by throwing the ball into the hoop

drop shot
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A soft shot in tennis that lands just over the net and drops quickly, hard to reach

moon shot
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A rocket launch that sends a spacecraft to the moon

chip shot
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A short low golf shot that makes the ball run along the ground toward the hole

A stroke in tennis or similar racket sports made with the back of the hand facing the ball

1 3.9

A basketball move in which a player stands still and uses both hands to put the ball in the basket

rifle shot
  • Specialized
1 6.5

The farthest distance a rifle bullet can hit a target

1 2.5

A hit of the tennis ball with a racket during play

case shot
  • Archaic
1 9.8

A metal cylinder filled with small balls fired from a cannon to spread them widely

pitch shot
  • Jargon
1 4.9

A high, short golf shot that lands softly near the hole

passing shot
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A tennis hit that goes past an opponent at the net

duck shot
  • Specialized
1 7.2

Small metal balls put in shotgun shells for hunting ducks

A stroke hit with the palm facing forward in tennis or badminton

powder and shot
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A supply of gunpowder and bullets for old guns

1 7.7

A small round metal pellet fired from an air gun

scoop shot
  • Jargon
1 4.9

A close-range basketball shot made with an underhand scooping motion over a defender

1 4.8

A goalkeeper who is very good at saving shots on goal

1 9.9

A tall building used to make small round lead balls for guns by dropping hot lead into water

1 3.7

A shot in basketball that bounces off the backboard into the hoop

shot hole
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A hole that workers drill in rock or earth to hold explosives for blasting

canister shot
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A metal cylinder filled with many small balls that scatter when fired from a cannon

1 3.4

A shot you take from the free throw line after a foul

stuff shot
  • Jargon
1 7.0

A basketball play where a player puts the ball down hard through the hoop

chop shot
  • Jargon
1 6.9

A tennis stroke where you hit the ball downwards so it spins backwards

masse shot
  • Jargon
9.9

A pool shot where the player holds the cue almost vertical so the cue ball curves around another ball

A tropical plant grown for its edible root that people use to make starch for cooking

pivot shot
  • Jargon
6.1

A one-handed basketball shot you take while turning on one foot

shot metal
  • Specialized
9.5

A soft metal mixture mostly made of lead used to make small pellets for shotgun shells

9.9

A video or film with bright, swirling images that look unreal, like a strong drug trip

How Harsh

attack
485 3.2
shot
  • Offensive
83 5.9
snipe
  • Offensive
1 7.4
dig
  • Offensive
33 8.1
tease
1 4.0

Surface Forms

shot singular
shots plural

Etymology

Shot meaning a harsh remark comes from the image of someone 'shooting' words at another person. That's why a shot at someone is an aggressive or critical comment.