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
Relevance
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
But Parente says Martinez, who was shot five times after the crash, did not cause the wreck, arguing the agent was the person who actually initiated the contact by sideswiping his client, making the condition of his vehicle crucial to her defense.
—
Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
The removal of Hill isn’t justification for a do-over, or a reason for this season being sideswiped because Hill was on the field when these Dolphins dug themselves an 0-3 hole to start the season.
—Omar Kelly
october 3, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Police said the motorcycle officer also tried to stop the Buick, but the driver did not yield and sideswiped another car.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
At times, fill-in left tackle Justin Skule was sideswiped.
—Jenna West, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sideswipe
Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
The removal of Hill isn’t justification for a do-over, or a reason for this season being sideswiped because Hill was on the field when these Dolphins dug themselves an 0-3 hole to start the season.
—Omar Kelly
october 3, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Police said the motorcycle officer also tried to stop the Buick, but the driver did not yield and sideswiped another car.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
At times, fill-in left tackle Justin Skule was sideswiped.
—Jenna West, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sideswipe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sideswipe
Verb
-
Stevens said the loss of Lea’e’s father hit the team hard.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Minnesota guard Cade Tyson hit a game-tying 3-pointer with five seconds left, but Wisconsin counterpart John Blackwell sank a game-winning trey at the buzzer for a 78-75 win at Williams Arena.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Bolstering that pair — or, even better, the second pair, and bumping down rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka to the third — would go a long way toward solidifying the blue line.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Pending toxicology test results in 180 other cases will likely bump the total up more.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Studies show the average American family pays more than $1,200 a year in higher prices tied directly to swipe fees.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Had one of his schools swiped a Big Ten athlete under contract (with tampering as the mechanism), Sankey’s credibility on the issue would have been severely undercut and his relationship with Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti might have been damaged.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Regarding Slotkin, The New York Times contacted Pirro’s office seeking clarification on the investigation.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Pittman’s father contacted the FBI Saturday and told the agency his son had confessed to setting the building on fire, says the complaint.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Officials in Washington state announced Saturday that two men were killed last week when an avalanche struck a group of four snowmobilers.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The sateen weave strikes the perfect balance for fall—breathable enough to release pesky heat and moisture, yet cozy and smooth enough to snuggle into on cooler nights.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Surveillance video showed a gray Honda ramming into the store's front façade.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The video shows the agents repeatedly ramming the Bazans’ car during a slow chase through the city.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sideswipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sideswipe. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
