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
-
Then in the final seconds of the period, Merrimack turned the puck over in their own zone but Jack Galanek could not stuff his hurried shot home.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
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 25,
Idaho Statesman,
25 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
-
But his actions were more likely based on the years of training and experience that make a good enforcement officer cautious rather than rash.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
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However, before any other officers could arrive on the scene, Pete made the rash decision to cover up Kay’s involvement by shooting the serial killer’s body a couple more times.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Players admit emotions can get the best of them, leading to impulsive challenges that cost their team later in the game.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
His impulsive decision-making and lack of a strategy for exiting the Iran war are also ingredients for hardship and disaster.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The discombobulation of college athletics contributed to their hasty exits.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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That got a little harder when USC canceled a debate set for Tuesday night and hasty plans for a replacement debate fell apart.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Team priorities could collide as the concerned Moon in your 11th House of Aspirations nudges reckless Mars in your 5th House of Risks.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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From right near the March Madness logo, 35 feet from paydirt, off a reckless turnover committed by a juggernaut team that led by 19 points in the first half, and by 15 at halftime.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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Skarsgård’s character James ejaculating at the beach after a sudden handjob by Mia Goth’s freewheeling Gabi.—
Gustavo Turner,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drive-by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive-by. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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