shots

plural of shot
1
as in firings
a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece cannon operators often had to use several shots to figure out the range of their targets

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2
3
as in photos
a picture created from an image recorded on a light-sensitive surface by a camera took a shot of his family for the scrapbook

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4
as in shooters
a person skilled in shooting at a target a soldier who's an excellent shot with a rifle

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5
as in sips
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time drank a shot of whisky

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6
as in guesses
an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence I have no idea what's different about you, but I'll take a shot: you cut your hair?

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7
as in opportunities
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place we have a real shot at getting into the championship if we win this next match

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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 shots When Doncic played for the Dallas Mavericks and led them to the 2024 NBA Finals, his two centers — Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford — were exceptional in their roles as lob threats, blocking shots and rolling to the rim. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Georgians had removed the royal governor just a few months earlier — nearly nine months after the Revolution’s first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord — and Gwinnett’s ambitious personality was deemed to better serve Georgia far from home. Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 30 June 2026 Rabies is nearly 100% fatal if left untreated but is almost certainly nonfatal with a series of five shots. Madonna Deverson, NBC news, 30 June 2026 Sweden, especially, seemed content to play conservatively, which forced France to take mediocre shots in the early going. Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 Chicago police said that a group of five men approached the two victims and shots were fired. Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Ivory Coast has increased its possession control in the second half, and now the shots are starting to fly in. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026 In a match totalling five shots, Gotham was true on both of its attempts for a 2-0 shutout victory over the Current. The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026 The shots of a tranquil alpine lake with crystal-clear water and an adorable girl (Fernanda Gutiérrez Aranda) playing on the shore appear designed to set up something ripped straight from a fairytale. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shots
Noun
  • Francisco Lindor had been through managerial firings before with the New York Mets.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 27 June 2026
  • What is particularly concerning about these firings is the effect the dismissals will have on the officer ranks.
    William H. McRaven, The Atlantic, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • If the shot is converted, the free throw is worth three points on three-point attempts or two points on two-point attempts.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • Firefighters made several attempts to reach them but were unable to rescue them, per the Akron Beacon Journal.
    Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Lock Down Your Phone in 30 Minutes Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • On Thursday, photos released by state broadcaster IRIB showed the commander sitting next to Khamenei’s casket during a farewell ceremony in Tehran.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • Kennard could have provided a critical floor-spacing piece around Doncic, who thrives when surrounded by lob-catching centers, athletic wings and knockdown shooters.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • They will be conducted by integrated teams of sensors, shooters, decoys, electronic attack, cyber capabilities, autonomous systems, and human decision-makers.
    David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Inside at Revel Lounge, half the après crowd sips cocktails in robes and slippers while the other half have logged back on with work and are huddled away in the bar’s many discreet nooks and corners.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
  • Power couples turn the event into a posh date and may even pack on the PDA between sips of Pimm’s.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Competitive Wordle Score Another tie game with four guesses each.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Zuckerberg has stood up a team that is now working to release its own prediction market app called Arena, which internal documents reviewed by NPR show will allow people to make guesses about future events.
    Bobby Allyn, NPR, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • There are fewer opportunities for younger workers to find mentors and soak up knowledge.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • My hope is that each and every American and everyone who resides in our great country will all get the same level of freedom and opportunities, and everyone can have a chance at the American dream.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • From 10-10 at halftime, Wales scored two tries in two minutes through prop Rhys Carre and Adams, who chased a speculative kick into the Fiji in-goal.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Japan has not won a World Cup knockout-round game in four tries.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Shots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shots. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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