as in partial
inclined to favor one side over another
my neighbor's account of how the feud got started was somewhat one-sided
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Recent Examples of one-sided
The relationship is so one-sided that Chicago, where the World Cup opened in 1994, backed out of the 2026 tournament citing the costs to the public.
—
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
Besides dyspnea, sharp and one-sided chest pain is typical.8
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction to a trigger (e.g., food, medicine, or insect stings).
—Laura Campedelli, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Two years after defying expectations in Istanbul — pushing Manchester City hard in a final many had predicted would be the most one-sided in history — Inter, gallingly, in the end found themselves on the wrong end of the most one-sided final ever.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 2 June 2025
While effort is essential in any relationship, effort that feels one-sided can lead to emotional burnout.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Even before the cutoff, any benefits have been one-sided in favor of India.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 May 2025
The deciding set was even more one-sided with Musetti clearly struggling with an injury, even after getting treatment at 0-3 down.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
Edwards was dominated and submitted in the fourth round by Sean Brady in a one-sided main event of a London crowd that was short on action.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Similarly, pausing attacks on energy infrastructure is clearly more advantageous to Russia, as is demilitarizing the Black Sea, given Russia’s dependence on the waterway and the Russian Navy’s extreme – and one-sided – vulnerability to Ukrainian attacks.
—Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
Besides dyspnea, sharp and one-sided chest pain is typical.8
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction to a trigger (e.g., food, medicine, or insect stings).
—Laura Campedelli, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Two years after defying expectations in Istanbul — pushing Manchester City hard in a final many had predicted would be the most one-sided in history — Inter, gallingly, in the end found themselves on the wrong end of the most one-sided final ever.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 2 June 2025
While effort is essential in any relationship, effort that feels one-sided can lead to emotional burnout.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Even before the cutoff, any benefits have been one-sided in favor of India.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 May 2025
The deciding set was even more one-sided with Musetti clearly struggling with an injury, even after getting treatment at 0-3 down.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
Edwards was dominated and submitted in the fourth round by Sean Brady in a one-sided main event of a London crowd that was short on action.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Similarly, pausing attacks on energy infrastructure is clearly more advantageous to Russia, as is demilitarizing the Black Sea, given Russia’s dependence on the waterway and the Russian Navy’s extreme – and one-sided – vulnerability to Ukrainian attacks.
—Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-sided
Adjective
-
This is why President Trump’s reaction to the commitment by NATO members at their recent summit to more than double their defense-spending target is welcome, even if a partial opt-out for Spain is not.—
The Editors,
National Review,
27 June 2025
-
While a partial Trump win on nationwide injunctions, challenges can continue.—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, Syria has turned from a fertile ground to a hostile one for Iran and its assets, after the Assad regime was toppled in December.—
Lina Khatib,
Time,
19 June 2025
-
By contrast, the U.S. had appeared openly skeptical and was often even seen as hostile.—
Ozan Ozerk,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
For me, balancing family and the creative lifestyle and more, time is definitely about distorted moments.—
Roberta Naas,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
For Saturday’s show — which ran despite the June edition of London Fashion Week being cancelled by the British Fashion Council — Rose presented looks that twisted, stretched, distorted and shrunken outerwear staples including puffa jackets, trench coats.—
Steve Salter,
CNN Money,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites without fully consulting the U.S. Congress layered a partisan approach onto a risky action, particularly because the White House briefed top Republican leaders beforehand without doing the same for Democrats.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2025
-
Confidence surveys also increasingly reflected partisan differences more than the actual economy.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
And Read’s many supporters – both outside the Dedham, Massachusetts, courthouse and online – championed her case, echoing her allegations of police corruption as her defense inside the courtroom painted the investigation as flawed and biased.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
23 June 2025
-
There can be data bias, which is when AI systems are trained on biased data that can contain an overrepresentation of some groups (white people for example) and an underrepresented of other groups (non-white people for example).—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“One-sided.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-sided. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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