warning shots
Shots signaling danger
Warning shots are gunfire intended to frighten or alert rather than harm—fired into the air or ground to signal serious intent without causing injury.
The term extends to any preliminary action meant as a threat or caution: The lawsuit was just a warning shot.
In diplomacy or business, warning shots signal escalation may follow if behavior doesn't change.
- gunshotFirearm's explosive report
- firearmProjectile weapon using explosives
- flare gunDistress signal launcher
- ammunitionWeapon projectiles and charges
- blank roundsPropellant-only ammunition
pistol · rifle · brinkmanship · alarms · ultimatum · line in the sand · deterrence · escalation · signals · proportionality · notices · discharge · muzzle · salvo · maritime tradition · foreshadowing · prelude · self-defense
- Police Forcedeadly force, excessive force, lethal force, reasonable force, less lethal
- self-defenseself-defense, martial arts, self-protection, karate, pepper spray
- violenceviolence, physical attack, brutality, physical violence, aggression
- crowd controlriot gear, riot shields, rubber bullets, pepper balls, water cannon
warning shotsheadshots
Professional face photographs
deadly force · assassination · lethal force · direct fire · execution
warning shotsscorched earth
Destroy all useful resources
total war · no quarter · opening fire · firefight · barrage
warning, shots, warn, shot, warns, warned, warnings, wariness, shoot