crosshair
noun
cross·hair
ˈkrȯs-ˌher 
: a fine wire or thread in the focus of the eyepiece of an optical instrument used as a reference line in the field or for marking the instrumental axis
—used figuratively to describe someone or something being targeted as if through an aiming device having crosshairs
… in the crosshairs this political season—
J. H. Alter
J. H. AlterExamples of crosshair in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now, some of China’s most zealous online nationalists have a new target in their crosshairs: the country’s first officially recognized Nobel laureate.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
Some 22 services, from operating systems to messenger apps and social media platforms, will be in the DMA’s crosshairs.
—Kelvin Chan, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2024
Here's a look at how the Digital Markets Act will work:
Some 22 services, from operating systems to messenger apps and social media platforms, will be in the DMA's crosshairs.
—Kelvin Chan, Quartz, 6 Mar. 2024
Nicki Minaj is on a warpath and Megan Thee Stallion is in her crosshairs.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2024
This marks the second DSA investigation after Elon Musk’s social media platform X found itself in the EU’s crosshairs in December last year.
—Reuters, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024
One second-division game last Friday saw fans attach to the goalposts thick metal bicycle locks and display a banner showing a club executive's face in crosshairs.
—James Ellingworth, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024
Noticeably missing from the prosecution’s crosshairs are the producers of the low-budget Western, outside of Baldwin.
—Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2024
Lying just a few kilometers north of Donetsk airport, captured by Russian forces in early 2015 after months of periodically heavy fighting, Avdiivka has been firmly in Moscow’s crosshairs ever since.
—Andrew Carey, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
Nectar Gan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
Some 22 services, from operating systems to messenger apps and social media platforms, will be in the DMA’s crosshairs.
—Kelvin Chan, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2024
Here's a look at how the Digital Markets Act will work:
Some 22 services, from operating systems to messenger apps and social media platforms, will be in the DMA's crosshairs.
—Kelvin Chan, Quartz, 6 Mar. 2024
Nicki Minaj is on a warpath and Megan Thee Stallion is in her crosshairs.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2024
This marks the second DSA investigation after Elon Musk’s social media platform X found itself in the EU’s crosshairs in December last year.
—Reuters, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024
One second-division game last Friday saw fans attach to the goalposts thick metal bicycle locks and display a banner showing a club executive's face in crosshairs.
—James Ellingworth, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024
Noticeably missing from the prosecution’s crosshairs are the producers of the low-budget Western, outside of Baldwin.
—Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2024
Lying just a few kilometers north of Donetsk airport, captured by Russian forces in early 2015 after months of periodically heavy fighting, Avdiivka has been firmly in Moscow’s crosshairs ever since.
—Andrew Carey, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crosshair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Crosshair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crosshair. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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