as in hurried
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
the administrator's schedule left her with no time to make more than a drive-by assessment of the situation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drive-by
The county attorney’s office charged the 16-year-old with drive-by shooting (recklessly discharging a firearm at a person while in or having just exited a vehicle), recklessly discharging a firearm within a municipality and possession of a firearm by a person under 18.
—
Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 23 July 2025
Dustin Alan Jackson, 46, was initially booked on first-degree murder and drive-by shooting charges in the July 1 shooting death of Steven Bevan, according to court documents.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 23 July 2025
Within months, authorities accused him of three other murders, including the 1993 killing of his mother’s boyfriend, Michael Johnson, and the 1989 drive-by shootings of his girlfriend, LaShawn Cowart, and her 2-year-old son.
—The Marshall Project, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
The 4-year-old, who was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting on June 27 at Skinner Park while playing at the playground, went with his mother often, running around and pretending to be Spiderman.
—Aurora Sousanis, Freep.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for drive-by
Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 23 July 2025
Dustin Alan Jackson, 46, was initially booked on first-degree murder and drive-by shooting charges in the July 1 shooting death of Steven Bevan, according to court documents.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 23 July 2025
Within months, authorities accused him of three other murders, including the 1993 killing of his mother’s boyfriend, Michael Johnson, and the 1989 drive-by shootings of his girlfriend, LaShawn Cowart, and her 2-year-old son.
—The Marshall Project, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
The 4-year-old, who was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting on June 27 at Skinner Park while playing at the playground, went with his mother often, running around and pretending to be Spiderman.
—Aurora Sousanis, Freep.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for drive-by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive-by
Adjective
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Scenes of hurried passengers chugging water or tossing full bottles into trash bins have become routine — and agents are required to confiscate anything that doesn’t comply, often to the frustration of everyday travelers.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
17 July 2025
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While authors have long relied on brief bookstore appearances and hurried festival signings to connect with their audience, reading retreats offer extended, intimate access to their most devoted fans in settings designed for thoughtful literary discussion.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Important plot points that could mean something are paid off in the most cursory fashion.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
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But responses can take days, and even then, evaluations are often cursory, according to detainees and their families.—
Dhruv Mehrotra,
Wired News,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Dress Code: Modest swimwear is required, and swimsuits, rash guards and knee-length shorts are allowed.—
Evan Moore
August 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Aug. 2025
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Swimmers in polluted water may develop gastrointestinal illness, respiratory disease, ear and eye infection, and skin rash, the report states.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For example: • Excitement can spark innovation or lead to impulsive decisions.—
Marc Brackett,
Fortune,
12 Aug. 2025
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That impulsive rescue set off a chain reaction that would change everything.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But setting that film's performance in a broader context shows that this is one win that the comics giant might not want to get too hasty about celebrating.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, Jean Paul Bradshaw, an attorney for White, cautioned against a hasty election that could spark further legal challenges.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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With real pressure from Washington, Addis Ababa and the Tigrayan administration should be able to marginalize the reckless factions that are seeking to exploit the situation—and finally bring to heel the Middle Eastern powers that have for too long enjoyed free rein to meddle in the Horn of Africa.—
Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Aug. 2025
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But this season, he’s largely kept her in the dark about his reckless bid to construct a transnational railroad line.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Many fans were concerned about the sudden presser announcement, thinking that Prime may have to step away from coaching.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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His recording career had lurched to a sudden halt for four years in 1979, due to a manager who refused to let him out of the stifling contract Reid had signed as a naive teenager.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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However, one quick two-handed push off by No. 5 sent Morris earthbound as the coach quickly became London’s next victim.—
Hailey Hurst,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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These routines are highly edited, almost hypnotic, with quick cuts, each mini-scene overlaid with a time stamp.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drive-by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive-by. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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