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
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.
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Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
The Mazda6 driver exited onto Ohio 747 where the vehicle sideswiped a silver SUV before driving northbound.
—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sideswipe
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
The Mazda6 driver exited onto Ohio 747 where the vehicle sideswiped a silver SUV before driving northbound.
—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sideswipe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sideswipe
Verb
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Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually.
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The Iraq goalkeeper didn't make a play on it, as the ball hit the post and bounced away.
Verb
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Apple bumped its prices across much of its product lineup today, in some cases adding hundreds of dollars to the cost of a new Macintosh.
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In this case, safe meant a track big enough for two riders to race without bumping into each other.
Verb
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Who got caught swiping this trash can?
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The 22-year-old center fielder swiped three bases in his second game with high Single-A Fort Wayne and both Luke Cantwell and Kavares Tears homered in a 7-6 win at Lake County on Wednesday.
Verb
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Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
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Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact CHP’s Major Crimes Unit at 916-731-6580.
Verb
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This site strikes a rare balance between serenity and world-class action.
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The devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela yesterday were most likely caused by a rupture in one of the country’s most active seismic zones — comprising the Boconó and San Sebastián faults, which extend along Venezuela’s northern coast — according to the USGS.
Verb
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Other threats against such large events include a potential vehicle-ramming attack or a mass shooting.
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Footage from outdoor security cameras on the woman's home shows that the car was moving at a high speed before ramming into the home.
Cite this Entry
“Sideswipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sideswipe. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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