slings and arrows

plural noun

: pointed often acerbic critical attacks
… has suffered the slings and arrows of detractors …—Roland Gelatt

Examples of slings and arrows in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Holland, of course, was providing cover for the man who should have been receiving most of the slings and arrows this week. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 2 May 2026 Low inflation is the Fed’s plot armor, its vital protection again slings and arrows. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026 Some employees are born with pit-bull determination, while others are more vulnerable to the slings and arrows of workplace pressures. — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Unlike the in-game broadcast crew, Laskey navigates the slings and arrows following victory or defeat directly. — Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for slings and arrows

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" in Shakespeare's Hamlet

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slings and arrows was in 1963

Rhymes for slings and arrows

See All Rhymes for slings and arrows

Browse Nearby Words

sling rope
slings and arrows
slingshot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slings and arrows.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slings%20and%20arrows. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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