as in hitting
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 sideswiping
Ramirez-Mesa barrelled through the intersection, sideswiping the 4Runner before crashing into the driver’s side of the Sonata, deputies say.
—
Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sideswiping
Verb
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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Bench coach Jeff Pickler, third base coach Andy Gonzalez, first base coach Doug Bernier, assistant hitting coach Jordan Pacheco and Schaeffer all took players aside to point out the nuances of the contact play.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s a lot of serendipity and people bumping into one another.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
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The top eight skiers advanced to the medal final and both Kauf and Anthony got higher scores, bumping Giaccio, 25, out of contention into ninth place.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Instead of donating the items to thrift stores, consider contacting local parenting groups or shelters to find a family willing to accept newer models that haven’t been recalled.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
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His bond was set at $5,000 cash, and he is banned from contacting the victim, according to court records.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Two Pittsburgh men are now charged in Ohio after a drug investigation ended with one of them ramming multiple police vehicles.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
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He was literally known for ramming through players at the goal line.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sideswiping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sideswiping. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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