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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drive-by
An shooting earlier this month turned into a homicide investigation after a man shot in a drive-by died from his injuries.
—
Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025
Authorities have arrested a suspect and are working to determine a motive after bullets zipped through the windows of a local Sacramento TV station in what city police described as a drive-by shooting on Friday afternoon.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
In a May court filing, Hernandez Troutman described how the sheriff's office seized that woman's 2018 Nissan Altima after her boyfriend was the victim of a drive-by shooting.
—Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
Police are investigating a drive-by shooting that struck the ABC10 television station in Sacramento, California, on Friday.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drive-by
Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025
Authorities have arrested a suspect and are working to determine a motive after bullets zipped through the windows of a local Sacramento TV station in what city police described as a drive-by shooting on Friday afternoon.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
In a May court filing, Hernandez Troutman described how the sheriff's office seized that woman's 2018 Nissan Altima after her boyfriend was the victim of a drive-by shooting.
—Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
Police are investigating a drive-by shooting that struck the ABC10 television station in Sacramento, California, on Friday.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drive-by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive-by
Adjective
-
By doing so, the Panthers tried a hurried, fire-drill field goal, which Ryan Fitzgerald then proceeded to miss, which meant the halftime score was 19-3, Buffalo, and soon to get much worse.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Oct. 2025
-
There were multiple occasions in which A&M’s defensive front hit or hurried quarterback Garrett Nussmeier with just four rushers.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
The heat on Nestlé is shifting from its CEO, who was fired this week for having an undisclosed affair with a subordinate, to its board, whose initial, apparently cursory, investigation failed to uncover evidence that a later probe uncovered.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Our poor Toby, always so stressed, always so rushed.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
These alternatives can often provide a richer, less rushed experience than a whirlwind day trip to Paris.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Retaliating by no longer subsidizing Amy’s 4-H activities and withholding birthday and Christmas gifts may have been rash and could drive a lasting wedge that won’t be easily repaired.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
27 Oct. 2025
-
There are bright blue and green swim shorts with hexagonal prints, silk resort shirts, a jacquard shorts and shirt set, rash guards and matching beach bags and towels.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Concerned that Barack Obama was running away with the race, John McCain made an impulsive gamble, boldly picking the largely unknown Alaska governor Sarah Palin.—
Time,
Time,
3 Nov. 2025
-
His demeanor speaks to the archer's fiery nature and impulsive behavior, keeping their characteristics in sync.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
According to reporting from El Dorado Hills community publication Village Life in 2023, Loewen’s hasty exit came months after El Dorado Hills residents voiced concerns over possible ethics and contract violations.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Chief among the clues police have recovered at the scene of Sunday's sensational crime at one of the world's most famous museums are traces of DNA found on items the thieves left behind in their hasty motorbike getaway.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Critics lambasted those policies as impractical at best, reckless at worst.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
These reckless policies have deadly consequences.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Most aneurysms are symptom-free, but sudden severe headaches or vision changes can signal a life-threatening rupture.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Health,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drive-by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive-by. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share