kill shot

American  

noun

Sports.

1. a decisive smashing or punching of a ball with the hand or a racquet such that it is virtually unreturnable, as in volleyball, handball, or badminton.

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Example Sentences

Dr. Prasad’s kill shot last week is part of a broader pattern in which he has arbitrarily changed standards for approving new drugs and reversed the agency’s prior guidance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Appeared in the February 12, 2026, print edition as 'Vinay Prasad’s Vaccine Kill Shot'.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It was that split-second beforehand, right before you hit that QB, right before you wrap him up … not go for the kill shot every time. Just make the play.”

From Los Angeles Times

Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us” The kill shot from Lamar’s beef with Drake has reached the point where you’re sure to hear it half a dozen times — including from the organist — over the course of a game at Dodger Stadium.

From Los Angeles Times

“He scrambles. He can move around, stop on a dime, spin around. There was a play early in the game where I thought I had a kill shot, he stopped. He’s a playmaker, so it feels good to be able to corral him like a chicken.”

From Washington Times