one-sided

adjective

one-sid·​ed ˈwən-ˈsī-dəd 

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

Synonyms of one-sided

• partial
• hostile
• distorted
• partisan
• biased

Examples of one-sided in a Sentence

my neighbor's account of how the feud got started was somewhat one-sided

Recent Examples on the Web

Well, this has been one of the most one-sided matches of the tournament thus far. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026

Grab a bench and place your left hand and your left knee on it in a one-sided tabletop position. — Jakob Roze, Health, 17 June 2026

Our daughter-in-law is definitely one-sided. — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 25 June 2026

Unsurprisingly, one-sided overshares lack the back-and-forth rhythm of reciprocity that helps people feel closer. — Jessica Dulong, CNN Money, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for one-sided

• coincided
• subdivided
• undecided
• undivided
• unprovided
• abided
• collided
• confided
• decided
• derided
• divided
• elided

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