one-sided

adjective

one-sid·​ed ˈwən-ˈsī-dəd How to pronounce one-sided (audio)
1
a(1)
: having one side prominent : lopsided
(2)
: having or occurring on one side only
b
: limited to one side : partial
a one-sided interpretation
2
: unilateral
a one-sided decision
one-sidedly adverb
one-sidedness noun

Examples of one-sided in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But the score may have been even more one-sided if a rising junior on Northern’s team had accepted a previous invitation to be a student-athlete at Miller. Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 25 Feb. 2024 Many communities and regions in Wisconsin have grown more politically one-sided in recent decades, and fewer voters split their tickets today. Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2024 The match was one-sided until Suarez scored his first Inter Miami goal in the 34th minute to give the MLS club some life. Safid Deen, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 Formula 1’s 2022 season was one of the most one-sided in history, as Max Verstappen streaked to the world championship with a record number of wins in a single season. Phillip Horton, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2023 Grassroots support for Palestinians has poured out from Black millennials and Gen-Zers online — from TikTok to Instagram to Twitter — in the past three weeks, but prior to the public pressure, Black politicians and institutions remained mostly silent at best and one-sided at worst on the crisis. Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 6 Nov. 2023 Sometimes, the struggle between wealthy interests and ordinary taxpayers can seem so one-sided as to be hardly a contest at all. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2023 Their exchange is terse and extremely one-sided in favor of the self-righteous Bosch. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2023 While this game was rather one-sided in favor of the Crusaders, Montgomery displayed the grit the Aztecs have been known for under Freddy Dunkle and his band of fellow SDSU alumni coaches. Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'one-sided.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-sided was circa 1793

Dictionary Entries Near one-sided

Cite this Entry

“One-sided.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-sided. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

one-sided

adjective
one-sid·​ed
ˈwən-ˈsīd-əd
1
a
: having one side more developed
b
: having or happening on one side only
2
: favoring one side : partial
a one-sided view of the case
one-sidedly adverb
one-sidedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on one-sided

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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