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
-
Stidham got off a hurried pass into the flat, but Patriots safety Craig Woodson was there and nearly picked it off.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Florina Guerrero maneuvers around Taqueria San Miguel taking orders at a hurried clip.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Even before having anything more than cursory conversations with any of the candidates, the team has decided to keep their high-leverage relief pitchers in that role.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Dec. 2025
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Even a cursory review of the nation’s political violence in recent years makes clear there is plenty of blame to go around.—
Ronald J. Hansen,
AZCentral.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Gemini May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The result of such rash maneuvers can only be a general slackening of standards.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
One rash decision changes the course of his life.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The difference between decisive and impulsive is data.—
Christopher DiLella,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2026
-
In hindsight, the whole process was impulsive.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Clashes between protesters and federal agents have at times led to hasty arrests and charges, leading some cases to crumble under court scrutiny or be voluntarily dismissed by government prosecutors after more evidence emerges.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
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With Warsh still well in the mix, some analysts also think the market's move away from National Economic Council (NEC) director Kevin Hassett is at least too hasty.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Later that month, a reckless driver trying to flee police hit and killed a 28-year-old man.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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The Oceanside City Council recently revised their e-bike ordinance to allow law enforcement to confiscate e-bikes from reckless riders.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Loose, fast, and slightly jerky steps, a sudden joy sweeping through the body like a wind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This design helps prevent the air from escaping during sudden movements or changes in orientation.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drive-by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive-by. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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