sideswipe

1 of 2

verb

side·​swipe ˈsīd-ˌswīp How to pronounce sideswipe (audio)
sideswiped; sideswiping; sideswipes
Synonyms of sideswipenext

transitive verb

: to strike with a glancing blow along the side
sideswiped a parked car

sideswipe

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: the action of sideswiping
b
: an instance of sideswiping : a glancing blow
2
: an incidental deprecatory remark, allusion, or reference

Examples of sideswipe in a Sentence

Verb The taxi sideswiped a parked car. Noun She took a sideswipe at the senator's voting record.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
His car sideswiped a wooden bridge. — Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026 The impact caused the suspect to lose control, sideswipe a tree and go flying off the scooter. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
Look for a toddler ride-on toy made with heavy enough plastic to be long-lasting and to stand up to frequent bumps and sideswipes. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 May 2025 The blind spot is blamed for sideswipe accidents that occur by the hundreds of thousands every year. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 June 2010 See All Example Sentences for sideswipe

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1891, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sideswipe was in 1857

Rhymes for sideswipe

See All Rhymes for sideswipe

Browse Nearby Words

sideswept
sideswipe
side table
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sideswipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sideswipe. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sideswipe

1 of 2 verb
side·​swipe -ˌswīp How to pronounce sideswipe (audio)
: to hit along the side with a blow that bounces off at an angle
sideswiped a parked car

sideswipe

2 of 2 noun
1
: an instance of sideswiping : a blow from an angle that bounces off
2
: an indirectly related disapproving remark, allusion, or reference
a sideswipe at the senator's voting record

More from Merriam-Webster on sideswipe

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sideswipe

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