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
Two people were injured in a drive-by shooting at a Fort Worth bus station on Friday night, police said.
—
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors allege Faceworld members targeted mourners in a drive-by shooting.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Abraham Herrera, 21, is facing several charges stemming from his alleged role in two drive-by shootings and a standoff with SWAT in Hays County – located roughly 15 miles from Austin – last month, according to FOX 7.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
In London, thieves have graduated from the subtle art of snagging wallets from pockets in crowded tube cars, instead opting for drive-by e-bike robberies, swooping phones out of unsuspecting tourists’s hands and zooming off.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drive-by
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors allege Faceworld members targeted mourners in a drive-by shooting.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Abraham Herrera, 21, is facing several charges stemming from his alleged role in two drive-by shootings and a standoff with SWAT in Hays County – located roughly 15 miles from Austin – last month, according to FOX 7.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
In London, thieves have graduated from the subtle art of snagging wallets from pockets in crowded tube cars, instead opting for drive-by e-bike robberies, swooping phones out of unsuspecting tourists’s hands and zooming off.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drive-by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive-by
Adjective
-
Pre-existing structures, supported by documentation and commercial logic, carry far more weight than hurried adjustments made after funds are already exposed.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
They were blown out by the Boston Celtics on Sunday before losing by one at home to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday when Luka Doncic passed up a three and threw the ball to LeBron James, who missed a hurried, last-second three.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Trump made only a cursory effort to notify Congress before launching the attack, briefing a small circle of congressional leaders shortly before the operation was underway and leaving most lawmakers to learn of it after the fact.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Down goes Larsson: This time a blow to the face was more than cursory for Larsson, with an elbow from Jaylen Brown in the second quarter putting Larsson down and taking him off the court for the second half.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Little emphasized the need to ease property taxes in a letter accompanying his signature but criticized Moyle’s approach as rushed and overly complex.—
Mark Dee
March 6,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
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May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Both had a fever, a cough, a rash, pink eye, and cold symptoms.—
Andrew Jones,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Both had a fever, a cough, a rash, pink eye, and cold symptoms.—
Andrew Jones,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The dispensing of moral instruction is an often tiresome staple of child-friendly animation, but the lessons that Mabel must learn—to be less impulsive, less strident, and more willing to see the good in others—also turn out to be shrewd organizational and negotiating tactics.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
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The impulsive reaction to this data is a trap.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sloppy, hasty automation, which replaces workers with inferior machines, is everyone’s loss.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
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Revisiting a hasty property tax reform House Bill 389 emerged in the waning days of the 2021 legislative session, already the longest in Idaho history.—
Mark Dee
March 6,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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He was medically cleared at a hospital and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on felony and misdemeanor charges, including felony evasion of a police officer while driving in a reckless manner.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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Police also arrested Ian McGinnis, 21, of Philadelphia, charging him with reckless endangerment, assault and unlawful possession of noxious matter and accusing him of spraying pepper spray at counterprotesters.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Garry Moore, 66, pleaded guilty in January to voluntary manslaughter, a Level 2 felony, under sudden heat.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drive-by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive-by. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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