broadside

noun

broad·side | \-ˌsīd

Definition of broadside

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a(1) : a sizable sheet of paper printed on one side

(2) : a sheet printed on one or both sides and folded

b : something (such as a ballad) printed on a broadside

2 archaic : the side of a ship above the waterline

3a : all the guns on one side of a ship also : their simultaneous discharge

b : a volley of abuse or denunciation

4 : a broad or unbroken surface

broadside

adjective

Definition of broadside (Entry 2 of 4)

: directed or placed broadside a broadside attack

broadside

adverb

Definition of broadside (Entry 3 of 4)

1a : with the side forward or toward a given point : sideways turned broadside

b : directly from the side the car was hit broadside

2 : in one volley

3 : at random

broadside

verb

broadsided; broadsiding; broadsides

Definition of broadside (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

: to hit broadside the car was broadsided

Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about broadside

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Synonyms for broadside

Synonyms: Adverb

crabwise, edgeways [chiefly British], edgewise, sideways, sidewise

Did You Know?

Noun

What do sheets of printed paper and a ship's artillery have in common? Not a whole lot besides their broadsides. The printing and naval senses of broadside arose independently in the 16th century. Printed broadsides may have first been decrees intended for public posting, so they were necessarily printed on one side of large sheets of paper. Soon even matters printed on one side of smallish sheets were called broadsides - advertisements, for example, or the so-called "broadside ballads," popular ditties that people stuck on the wall to sing from. In the nautical sense, broadside was originally the entire side of a ship above the water - which is where the guns were placed. The further use of broadside to refer to firing of the guns eventually led to the figurative "volley of abuse" sense.

Examples of broadside in a Sentence

Adverb

The car was hit broadside. one car hit the other broadside and crushed the passenger door

Verb

His car was broadsided by a truck as he was driving through the intersection.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Fahrenheit 11/9 is pegged to the election of Trump, but tackles so much more Fahrenheit 11/9 is a sweeping broadside against Trump, to be sure — not an original approach in documentary filmmaking these days. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "In Fahrenheit 11/9, Michael Moore spares no one — especially self-satisfied liberals," 7 Sep. 2018 The broadsides have been mimicked by politicians and others running for elected office around the country, and parroted by foreign leaders around the world, many with poor human rights records and reputations. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "Trump admits he attacks press to discredit them: Lesley Stahl," 23 May 2018 Pelosi's broadside came a day after Republicans rallied around the congressman and 15 former Ohio State wrestlers issued a joint statement of support for Jordan. — NBC News, "Nancy Pelosi backs Ohio State wrestlers who criticized Jim Jordan," 12 July 2018 The broadsides have been mimicked by politicians and others running for elected office around the country, and parroted by foreign leaders around the world, many with poor human rights records and reputations. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "Trump admits he attacks press to discredit them: Lesley Stahl," 23 May 2018 The broadsides came a day after the White House took aim at two potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, Sens. — Felicia Sonmez, chicagotribune.com, "'Abolish ICE' demands draw White House rebuke," 4 July 2018 The broadsides have been mimicked by politicians and others running for elected office around the country, and parroted by foreign leaders around the world, many with poor human rights records and reputations. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "Trump admits he attacks press to discredit them: Lesley Stahl," 23 May 2018 The broadsides have been mimicked by politicians and others running for elected office around the country, and parroted by foreign leaders around the world, many with poor human rights records and reputations. — Eli Rosenberg, Washington Post, "Trump admitted he attacks press to shield himself from negative coverage, 60 Minutes reporter says," 22 May 2018 Pompeo caught Trump’s attention with his broadsides against Hillary Clinton during 2015 congressional hearings about attacks on a diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that left four people, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, dead. — BostonGlobe.com, "Senators seek assurance Pompeo won’t enable Trump’s ‘worst instincts’ if he’s secretary of state," 13 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The cause of the limp, a long-ago car accident that had killed his wife, he and she having been broadsided by a drunk driver, was no longer ever mentioned. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "Read an excerpt from Kim Stanley Robinson’s next book," 18 Oct. 2018 President Trump’s broadsides against NATO have rattled a military alliance that has existed for 69 years and that has helped to define the global order since shortly after World War II. — John Fritze, USA TODAY, "What is NATO and why is Donald Trump slamming it?," 12 July 2018 On the way to their first big gig, the Plaids are broadsided and killed instantly by a school bus of Catholic school girls on the way to see the Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. — Emily Sorensen, Pomerado News, "Welk Theatre's 'Forever Plaid' opens Saturday," 11 July 2018 While en route, a deputy traveling south on North Santa Fe Avenue with his emergency lights and siren on was broadsided by a 2000 Toyota Rav4 traveling east on Vista Village Drive at the intersection of the two streets. — Gary Warth, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Sheriff's patrol car broadsided by vehicle while enroute to accident," 5 July 2018 That’s why Trump broadsides at the alliance as a whole, even if not specifically directed at the Poles, cause a distinct undercurrent of nervousness. — Laura King, latimes.com, "Poland sees opportunity and peril in NATO summit and Trump-Putin meeting," 9 July 2018 The gathering ended with President Donald Trump broadsiding allies via Twitter, undermining the bloc and potentially causing fresh friction over trade. — Fortune, "Watch Out: This Could Be the World Economy's Most Important Week of 2018," 11 June 2018 Without saying McCain's name, Trump again broadsided McCain for his dramatic opposition last July to oppose a Republican effort to roll back the Affordable Care Act. — Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, azcentral, "John McCain 'doesn't give a rat's ass' what Trump says or thinks of him, co-author says," 30 May 2018 Rain from two systems is expected to broadside Northern California this week, dropping up to seven inches in Grass Valley, five inches in Sonora and three in Chico, Redding, Santa Rosa and Weaverville by Saturday morning. — Benjy Egel, sacbee, "This week's storms could drop 100 inches of snow in the Sierra Nevada | The Sacramento Bee," 12 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'broadside.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.