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 Gauff jumped out to a 5-0 lead in a first set so one-sided that Ostapenko had won just three points in the first four games. oregonlive, 5 Sep. 2023 That hearing was one-sided from the beginning, with Oppenheimer’s lawyers barred from accessing confidential materials, while the commission’s prosecuting attorney had access to hundreds of wiretap recordings. Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 22 July 2023 The sentiment was not one-sided as Gatson echoed his admiration for Jest. Grace Cady, Journal Sentinel, 9 June 2023 Chances are, this new moon will open you up to making new friends, especially if things have felt one-sided in previous friendships. Dossé-Via, refinery29.com, 5 June 2023 The race to serve out the remaining two years in the east-side district vacated by now-state Sen. Forrest Dunbar is comparably one-sided in terms of fundraising. Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Mar. 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 29 Sep. 2023.

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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