Synonyms of sideways

sideways

adverb

ˈsīd-ˌwāz 

1

as in sidewise

with one side faced forward

I had to walk sideways to get between the two towering piles of boxes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sidewise
• laterally
• obliquely
• broadside
• edgewise
• crabwise
• indirectly
• edgeways
• sideward
• aslant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straight
• right
• direct
• dead

2

as in suspiciously

with distrust

she glanced at us sideways when she heard us claim we weren't there that night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suspiciously
• with a grain of salt
• incredulously
• negatively
• warily
• askance
• doubtfully
• anxiously
• skeptically
• dubiously
• distrustfully
• critically
• doubtingly
• uncomfortably
• hesitantly
• quizzically
• mistrustfully
• questioningly
• unbelievingly
• hesitatingly
• unfavorably
• uneasily
• guardedly
• cynically
• disapprovingly
• reproachfully
• apprehensively
• disparagingly
• reprovingly
• charily
• captiously
• deprecatingly
• reproachingly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• positively
• favorably
• trustingly
• approvingly
• confidently
• trustfully
• uncritically
• unquestioningly
• sanguinely
• credulously

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sideways

Everything seemed perfect, the moving date was pencilled in for October, and then things went sideways. — Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four, allowing your rib cage to expand sideways. — Sophia Dyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026

And if things really go sideways and a QB3 is needed during the season, the Cowboys can have one sit on the practice squad for an emergency — or, hey, Will Grier is still hanging around as an assistant coach, too. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026

In a chaotic landscape where things only go more sideways, college football is slightly more horizontal today than yesterday. — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026

But things went sideways when the drone hovered above Austen’s pool and dropped the package into the water. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

As the machine whirred to life, the film strip moved from a large platter through a system of rollers, pulled sideways across the front of the lens. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Reading that quote, along with others from the car’s February reveal, highlights how quickly things went sideways for the two companies between the AMR26’s debut and the first race of the year. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 20 Aug. 2026

Pete Alonso skipped sideways toward first base while his drive sailed toward the foul pole in left field. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026