plural broadsides
1
: a very strong and harsh spoken or written attack
a broadside of criticism
The senator delivered a broadside [=blast] against the President.
2
: an attack by a ship in which all the guns on one side of the ship are fired together
1
: with the side facing forward
Turn the ship broadside.
2
chiefly US
: directly from the side
The car was hit broadside.
broadsides; broadsided; broadsiding
US
: to hit (a vehicle) very hard from the side
His car was broadsided by a truck as he was driving through the intersection.
Cite this Entry
“Broadside.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/broadside. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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