as in to hit
US
to cause the side of a vehicle to come into forceful contact with the side of another vehicle
The taxi sideswiped a parked car.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sideswipe
The impact caused the suspect to lose control, sideswipe a tree and go flying off the scooter.
—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
After sideswiping a tractor-trailer, Garrison would pull over while the spotter sped ahead to flag down the truck’s driver.
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Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Authorities allege Brumley was behind the wheel of a southbound Mitsubishi sedan that sideswiped a northbound sports utility vehicle.
—
David Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
1 Apr. 2026
His car sideswiped a wooden bridge.
—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sideswipe
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
After sideswiping a tractor-trailer, Garrison would pull over while the spotter sped ahead to flag down the truck’s driver.
—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Authorities allege Brumley was behind the wheel of a southbound Mitsubishi sedan that sideswiped a northbound sports utility vehicle.
—
David Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
1 Apr. 2026
His car sideswiped a wooden bridge.
—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sideswipe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sideswipe
Verb
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Against Cardinals’ starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore, the Braves mustered just one hit and one run through five innings of an eventual 5-3 loss.
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Thomas had hit a leadoff double, but Michael Massey, Salvador Perez and John Rave failed to drive him in.
Verb
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My first glimpse of an elephant came as our safari game viewer bumped along the road from the airstrip to camp.
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Tea leaves provide natural acidity to plants that enjoy the boost and can bump nitrogen levels when added to compost.
Verb
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His failure to step up in the pocket and inconsistency in feeling pressure points allow edge rushers to swipe the ball out of his hands way too easily.
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Two weeks before Maria hit, Hurricane Irma swiped past the island’s northeast corner as a Category 5 storm, also knocking out power.
Verb
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The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department advised anyone bitten or scratched by a bat or other wild animal to promptly clean the wound with soap and water, then contact a physician or go to the emergency room.
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Some of the women who were angry contacted the SFMOMA not simply to share feedback, but to try to ensure Bahr could never work with the institution again.
Verb
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Periodic epidemics struck colonial port cities in the late 1700s, NLM records show.
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The vehicle struck a second 2007 Honda Pilot, which spun and hit a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, the crash report said.
Verb
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In May, a minibus rammed into a bus parked along a motorway in northwest Pakistan, killing 17 people and injuring five others.
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In May, a frightened horse rammed into another carriage, causing the vehicle to flip over, injuring the driver.
Cite this Entry
“Sideswipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sideswipe. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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