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Definitions

shotgun

[shot-guhn] / ˈʃɒtˌgʌn /
NOUN
firearm
Synonyms
STRONGEST
handgun musket pistol revolver rifle weapon
STRONG
heat
NOUN
gun
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cannon handgun hardware mortar piece pistol revolver rifle
STRONG
Uzi blaster difference equalizer flintlock forty-five howitzer magnum musket ordnance persuader rod
WEAK
Saturday-night special peashooter thirty-eight
NOUN
quiz
Synonyms
STRONGEST
query
STRONG
check exam examination investigation test
WEAK
blue book
Antonyms
WEAK
answer reply
NOUN
weapon
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ammunition bomb cannon firearm gun knife machete machine gun missile nerve gas pistol revolver rifle sword tear gas
STRONG
arbalest archery arrow assegai ax axe backsword ballista banderilla barong bat baton battle-ax bayonet bazooka blackjack blade blowgun bludgeon boomerang catapult cleaver club crossbow cudgel cutlass dagger dart dirk flamethrower harpoon hatchet howitzer lance musket saber scythe slingshot spear spike stiletto switchblade
WEAK
anlace atlatl billy club bow and arrow bowie knife brass knuckles hunting knife nuclear bomb nunchaku
VERB
coerce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
browbeat bully intimidate repress strong-arm suppress terrorize
STRONG
beset bulldoze concuss constrain cow dragoon drive force hinder impel make menace oblige pressurize push restrict threaten urge
WEAK
high-pressure lean on make an offer they can't refuse put the squeeze on twist one's arm
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow encourage help let go
STRONG
aid assist discourage dissuade free halt release repress stop suppress
WEAK
leave alone
VERB
compel
Synonyms
STRONGEST
constrain enforce exact impel necessitate oblige urge
STRONG
bulldoze coerce concuss dragoon drive hustle make restrain squeeze
WEAK
crack down make necessary put the arm on put the chill on throw weight around turn on the heat
Antonyms
STRONGEST
dissuade
STRONG
discourage halt leave alone stop
WEAK
block check delay deter hinder impede obstruct
VERB
constrain
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bind constrict curb hold down inhibit necessitate stifle
STRONG
ban bar bridle chain check coerce compel concuss confine cork deny deprive disallow drive hog-tie immure impel imprison incarcerate intern jail make oblige pressure pressurize urge withhold
WEAK
bottle up cool off hem in hold back hold in keep lid on put half nelson on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist encourage free help loosen release
STRONG
delay discourage dissuade halt indulge leave alone let go liberate permit repress stop
VERB
force
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cause charge compel demand drag drive impose inflict limit make move oblige order press pressure require restrict urge
STRONG
apply bind blackmail burden choke coerce command concuss conscript constrain contract draft dragoon enforce enjoin exact extort fix impel impress insist necessitate obtrude occasion overcome pressurize sandbag strong-arm wrest wring
WEAK
bear down bear hard on bring pressure to bear upon pin down put screws to put squeeze on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
check disallow discourage dissuade free halt leave alone let go prevent release stop
STRONG
aid allow forget give help neglect permit
WEAK
surrender yield
VERB
guard
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cover defend escort keep look after observe oversee patrol preserve safeguard secure shield supervise
STRONG
attend baby-sit bulwark chaperon chaperone conduct convoy fend lookout mind police save screen shelter shepherd stonewall superintend tend
WEAK
cover up keep an eye on keep in view keep under surveillance ride shotgun for see after
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abandon desert endanger forget give up harm hurt ignore injure lay bare leave let go lose neglect uncover
STRONG
disregard
VERB
look out
Synonyms
WEAK
be alert be careful be on guard beware check out have a care heads up hearken keep an eye out keep tabs listen mind notice pay attention peg pick up on scope size up spot spy watch out
Antonyms
WEAK
disregard ignore neglect
VERB
make
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cause drive force require start
STRONG
coerce concuss constrain dragoon effect impel impress initiate interfere meddle oblige press pressurize secure tamper
WEAK
bring about horn in prevail upon
Antonyms
STRONGEST
stop
STRONG
ignore leave alone let go neglect
WEAK
deny disallow discourage dissuade fail halt prevent refuse refute renounce veto
VERB
oblige
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bind compel constrain impel obligate
STRONG
coerce command force make necessitate
Antonyms
STRONGEST
delay free release
WEAK
be mean let off
VERB
patrol
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cruise inspect safeguard
STRONG
mount police pound range watch
WEAK
keep guard keep vigil keep watch make the rounds ride shotgun walk the beat
Antonyms
WEAK
ignore neglect
VERB
protect
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assure care for conserve cover cushion defend insulate keep look after preserve safeguard save secure shelter shield support
STRONG
bulwark champion chaperon fend foster harbor hedge screen shade stonewall watch
WEAK
cover all bases cover up give refuge give sanctuary go to bat for keep safe ride shotgun for sentinel stand guard take under wing watch over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abandon destroy endanger give up harm hurt ignore injure lay bare let go neglect release squander uncover waste
STRONG
open
WEAK
attack
VERB
shield
Synonyms
STRONGEST
conceal cover defend safeguard shelter ward off
STRONG
bulwark chamber fend guard harbor haven house roof screen secure stonewall
WEAK
cover all bases cover-up give cover give shelter go to bat for ride shotgun take under one's wing
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abandon lay bare reveal uncover
STRONG
disregard ignore
WEAK
endanger open

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Authorities claim Martin was carrying a shotgun and a gas can when they encountered him early Sunday.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

There is also a blunderbuss, a precursor to the shotgun, owned by Capt. Michael McClary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

O'Neil has already made a significant move to increase their shotgun start tournaments from 54 to 72 holes.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

Herbert appeared to comfortably catch the ball on shotgun snaps during throwing drills Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2025

He carried a shotgun upside down over his shoulder on a braided leather lanyard and he wore a nylon bandolier filled with shells for the gun.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy