shots

noun

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
as in attempts
an effort to do or accomplish something let's take another shot at the puzzle

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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 Etzel noted that the order makes several significant changes, which include reducing the number of diseases targeted by childhood vaccines and separating the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine into individual shots. — Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026 Courtesy of Atlanta’s defense, the Dream disrupted the Tempo’s offense early, forcing them to struggle getting shots in the paint. — Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The order aims to decrease the number of vaccines children take and split vaccines that have been administered in a single shot into several shots across separate doctor's visits. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 According to investigators, gunmen fired shots into the home, killing 45-year-old Chauncey Newman and 13-year-old Demarcus Shirley. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Players who did not have their shots indeed had to submit to daily testing and had to wear a mask within the team facility and practice distancing guidelines during meals, meetings and workouts. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 There, his deft use of crane shots and tracking shots was worked out with conspicuous formalist rigor—exactly nine shots of about the same ten-minute length—to form a portrait of a young writer in Baltimore. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026 All of the shots in the childhood vaccine schedule backed by pediatricians are still available. — Rob Stein, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 In March, two people fired multiple shots at the downtown Toronto consulate, damaging the building but causing no injuries. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shots
  1. firings
  2. attempts
  3. photos
  4. shooters
  5. sips
  6. guesses
  7. opportunities
  8. tries
Noun
  • Speaking in the Great Hall at the DOJ headquarters in Washington, Blanche praised career employees and sought to reassure a workforce depleted by firings and resignations and bruised by courtroom setbacks and accusations of political interference.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Blanche will do so with an agency that has been hollowed out by resignations, firings and voluntary departures while also confronting mounting pushback from the courts.
    — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of firings
Noun
  • Webb and Payton will lament converting only 5-of-14 attempts on third down, but the Broncos generally appeared in sync operationally.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Mangione’s lawyers previously fended off the government’s attempts to seek the death penalty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of attempts
Noun
  • The flames from one explosion also burned the upper half of another crewmate’s back, according to the crew’s attorney Jorge Chiriboga Dávalos, who shared photos of the injuries.
    — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Watch the discussion below, and scroll down for photos from the event.
    — The Deadline Team, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of photos
Noun
  • Patterson said that on June 14, a teen takeover occurred in Charlotte's Romare Bearden Park, resulting in the shooting of two teens, ages 15 and 18, and the arrests of three alleged shooters, two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Two people were killed and several others injured when two shooters opened fire at Canada’s largest street festival in Toronto in July.
    — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of shooters
Noun
  • Competition in the Pantry Awards drinks category was stiff—but the sips are all alcohol-free.
    — Editors of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026
  • If the person is suffering from heat exhaustion, try to give them sips of cool water.
    — Jonathan Myers, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of sips
Noun
  • Everyone predicted the scoreline of each of the 10 Premier League matches each gameweek, with points awarded for correct guesses and a league table kept track of who was leading.
    — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Under Sharma’s tweet, past all the guesses, there are a huge number of fans telling her that Elder Scrolls VI should be Xbox exclusive as easily the biggest first-party game of this generation.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of guesses
Noun
  • European observers will see the moon low in the western sky before dawn, creating dramatic opportunities to see and photograph the eclipsed moon above city skylines, coastlines and mountain landscapes as morning twilight begins.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The fair is an easy way for children, families, adults and seniors to find volunteer opportunities that align with their interests and schedules, a news release said.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of opportunities
Noun
  • Loop made a 42-yard attempt later in the game and was 3-for-3 on extra-point tries.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Australians twice took an early lead via tries from Josh Nasser and Tupou but Japan rallied both times.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of tries

Phrases Containing shots

Browse Nearby Words

shot in the dark
shots
shots in the arm
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Cite this Entry

“Shots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shots. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of shots for Spanish Speakers

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