sideswipe

1 of 2

verb

side·​swipe ˈsīd-ˌswīp 

sideswiped; sideswiping; sideswipes

transitive verb

: to strike with a glancing blow along the side

sideswiped a parked car

sideswipe

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the action of sideswiping

b

: an instance of sideswiping : a glancing blow

2

: an incidental deprecatory remark, allusion, or reference

Examples of sideswipe in a Sentence

Verb

The taxi sideswiped a parked car.

Noun

She took a sideswipe at the senator's voting record.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Titanic was a luxury steamship that sank on April 15, 1912, off the coast of Newfoundland after sideswiping an iceberg during its maiden voyage. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2025

The vehicle then sideswiped a Ford Focus, sending the vehicle into a utility pole. —Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025

Noun

Look for a toddler ride-on toy made with heavy enough plastic to be long-lasting and to stand up to frequent bumps and sideswipes. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 May 2025

According to Indiana State Police, the Penske truck's driver was not in the correct lane causing the driver of a coal truck to move onto the emergency shoulder to avoid a sideswipe crash. —Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1891, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for sideswipe

• allotype
• antitype
• archetype
• biotype
• collotype
• genotype
• haplotype
• holotype
• hypotype
• isotype
• lectotype
• linotype

Kids Definition

sideswipe

1 of 2 verb

side·​swipe -ˌswīp 

: to hit along the side with a blow that bounces off at an angle

sideswiped a parked car

sideswipe

2 of 2 noun

1

: an instance of sideswiping : a blow from an angle that bounces off

2

: an indirectly related disapproving remark, allusion, or reference

a sideswipe at the senator's voting record