noun
sideswipe
Sideswipe (noun) means a glancing blow delivered from the side, such as one car clipping another while changing lanes. Example: “The truck took a sideswipe from a car merging too quickly.”
noun
1
A glancing blow delivered from the side, such as one car clipping another while changing lanes.
"The truck took a sideswipe from a car merging too quickly."
2
A sharp, indirect critical remark.
"His speech included a sideswipe at his political rivals."
verb
1
To strike something with a glancing blow from the side.
"The van sideswiped a parked car on the narrow street."
How to use sideswipe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA glancing hit from the side, literal or in the form of a cutting remark.
Common pairings
sideswipe a car
a sideswipe at critics
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Word forms
- Plural
- sideswipes
- Third person singular
- sideswipes
- Past tense
- sideswiped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The truck took a _____ from a car merging too quickly.
Etymology
A compound of "side" and "swipe".
Rhymes for sideswipe
See all rhymes for sideswipe →Frequently asked questions
What does “sideswipe” mean?
The word “sideswipe” means a glancing blow delivered from the side, such as one car clipping another while changing lanes. In plain terms, a glancing hit from the side, literal or in the form of a cutting remark.
How do you use “sideswipe” in a sentence?
Here is “sideswipe” used in a sentence: “The truck took a sideswipe from a car merging too quickly.”
What part of speech is “sideswipe”?
Depending on how it is used, “sideswipe” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “sideswipe” have?
“Sideswipe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a glancing blow delivered from the side, such as one car clipping another while changing lanes.
