sideswipe

verb

Definition of sideswipenext
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.

Related Words

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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 sideswipe Corle, taken completely by surprise, was sideswiped by the massive bear and sent tumbling face first into a thick clump of brush. — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026 Shortly afterward, another officer was nearly sideswiped by the Civic near Shackleford Road, which led to the pursuit on I-430, the release says. — Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2026 Hawaii cleans up after Hurricane Lala Communities struggled to recover after Tropical Storm Lala sideswiped Hawaii as a Category 1 hurricane, sparing the islands a direct hit but dumping more than 3½ feet of rain that caused catastrophic flooding. — Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 Sorensen allegedly admitted to sideswiping 20-year-old Jonathan Langdon's motorcycle while in a jealous rage, according to court records. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sideswipe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sideswipe
  1. hit
  2. bump
  3. swipe
  4. contact
  5. strike
  6. ram
Verb
  • The wreckage of Wednesday's crash reminded many of the aftermath of another train collision in January, when 46 people died in southern Spain when an Iryo train jumped the track and hit an oncoming Renfe train.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The teams combined to hit just four homers, three for Milwaukee.
    — Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of hit
Verb
  • The character always bumped some people, and those feelings coalesced around Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Capricorn Moon squares the Libra Sun, making one-on-one expectations bump against your need for comfort or personal space.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of bump
Verb
  • The touch screen sensor is built directly into the display panel rather than layered on top, which Apple says helps reduce delays when swiping and scrolling.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Users will be able to swipe, pinch, and double-tap to interact with apps, web pages, and other content.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of swipe
Verb
  • My colleague counters that to do so rubs salt in the wound, and that the loser is the one to first contact the winner with congratulations.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • When contacted by text about the endorsement, Kreiss-Tomkins responded with flexed-arm and rocket emojis.
    — Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of contact
Verb
  • Depending on your tolerance for grand aims and liturgical self-seriousness, her latest album may strike you as extraordinary or unbearable.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Naz Reid struck fire midway through the fourth, executing, in quick succession, plays on both ends of the court.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of strike
Verb
  • During a livestreamed service at a Raytown church Sunday, a truck rammed through the front doors, seriously injuring a member of the congregation.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The injury happened with the game already well on its way to its 43-13 final score, when players rammed into his legs at the end of a play that resulted in a Bryce Young sack.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of ram

Browse Nearby Words

side streets
sideswipe
sideswiped
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sideswipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sideswipe. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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