sideswipe

[ sahyd-swahyp ]
See synonyms for sideswipe on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),side·swiped, side·swip·ing.
  1. to scrape or hit with a sweeping stroke along the side: That car must’ve sideswiped mine when it backed out of the parking space.

noun
  1. a sweeping stroke or scrape along the side: We can fix that sideswipe and repaint the car door for a reasonable price.By checking your mirror before changing lanes, you can avoid sideswipes.

Origin of sideswipe

1
An Americanism first recorded in 1900–05; side1 + swipe

Other words from sideswipe

  • side·swip·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sideswipe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sideswipe

sideswipe

/ (ˈsaɪdˌswaɪp) /


noun
  1. a glancing blow or hit along or from the side

  2. an unexpected criticism of someone or something while discussing another subject

verb
  1. to strike (someone) with such a blow

Derived forms of sideswipe

  • sideswiper, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012