as in 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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Recent Examples of sideswiped
An investigation determined that David Olaeta was driving a GMC pickup truck that was traveling south on Highway 1 when the GMC crossed over the double yellow lines and sideswiped a Ford pickup, the CHP said.
—
Brandon Downs, CBS News, 3 May 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
Police canvassing the area found the victim behind the wheel of a gray Chevrolet Equinox with a Florida license plate that sideswiped three vehciles before coming to a stop outside the Coney Island Houses, about a block from where the shooting was reported.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
The driver sideswiped one vehicle near Exit 33, then continued and caused a three-vehicle crash at milepost 32 beneath the Middleton Road overpass, the post states.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026
That’s when the 35-year-old was sideswiped by a driver, according to news outlet ClickOrlando.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 21 Nov. 2025
Jamaica was still recovering from Hurricane Beryl, which sideswiped the island in July 2024 as a Category 4 storm.
—Farah Nibbs, The Conversation, 12 Nov. 2025
Brandon Downs, CBS News, 3 May 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
Police canvassing the area found the victim behind the wheel of a gray Chevrolet Equinox with a Florida license plate that sideswiped three vehciles before coming to a stop outside the Coney Island Houses, about a block from where the shooting was reported.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
The driver sideswiped one vehicle near Exit 33, then continued and caused a three-vehicle crash at milepost 32 beneath the Middleton Road overpass, the post states.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026
That’s when the 35-year-old was sideswiped by a driver, according to news outlet ClickOrlando.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 21 Nov. 2025
Jamaica was still recovering from Hurricane Beryl, which sideswiped the island in July 2024 as a Category 4 storm.
—Farah Nibbs, The Conversation, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sideswiped
Verb
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Sloane, who has increased his fastball velocity by over 10 mph since last spring and now reaches 90, hit the gym hard.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
During their semifinal win over Wisconsin, the Bruins hit four home runs and pushed their NCAA record single-season team home run total to 181.—
Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Player of the Game Ober’s start laid the foundation for the Twins’ win, which bumped them to 14-18 on the season.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
1 May 2026
-
Two years ago, Sierra Leone stormed from near the back after being bumped at the start, only to lose by a nose to Mystik Dan.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Other passengers of the airplane will be contacted by health authorities and will be provided guidance based on their seat location and the extent of their contact with the infected person, according to the institute.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Kidnapping plot foiled Investigators contacted the person and disclosed the kidnapping-for-hire plot.—
Kendrick Calfee
May 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Verb
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An officer was injured when a squad car was rammed by a suspect who exchanged gunfire with police.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
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The elephant also rammed into and injured its primary caretaker, Pradeep, Onmanorama reported, citing Angamaly Police.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Pérez swiped another bag in the eighth as the Tigers stole four bases in a game for the first time since May 28, 2023.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
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Pérez swiped another bag in the eighth as the Tigers stole four bases in a game for the first time since May 28, 2023.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
After some pressure by the Ducks on their second fruitless power play of the period, Vegas struck shorthanded.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
-
One thing that really struck me in the data is the sense that somehow we might not be entitled to our grief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Two more walks burned Warren in the fourth, as Duran followed with a sac fly before Seager knocked an RBI single.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
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MacKinnon was credited with two hits in the game — one on Hughes, which knocked the talented defenseman to the ice, and another on Boldy, who went hard into the boards.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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On April 12, Richard Andrew Hawthorne left the roadway on his motorcycle and collided with a utility box in Kansas City, Kansas.—
Eleanor Nash
May 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 May 2026
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The state agency said the woman, from Toledo, Ohio, was driving the wrong way on the interstate when her vehicle collided with another, which was occupied by a driver and two passengers.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sideswiped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sideswiped. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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