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

Or maybe they’ve been teased themselves after delivering a complete but one-sided conversation while fully asleep at a slumber party. — Michael R. Nadorff, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026

Harbaugh’s words were delivered to a fan base desperate for a reversal of the one-sided rivalry. — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Penalties one-sided so far The 15-yard penalty for roughing the kicker that extended a New England drive in the third quarter was just the latest flag on the Seahawks. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026

And the game was so one-sided that the teams agreed to shave five minutes off the fourth quarter, setting the clock for 10 minutes instead of the standard 15. — ABC News, 10 Sep. 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