broadsided
Hit from perpendicular
Broadsided means struck on the side, from the naval term for a ship's full flank.
A car that gets broadsided is hit from the side by another vehicle: A truck ran the red light and broadsided us.
Figuratively, to be broadsided is to be caught off guard by criticism or bad news: The CEO was broadsided by the reporter's question.
Surprised by unforeseen impact
- unsuspectingNot anticipating danger
- unawareLacking knowledge of something
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
- surprisedCaught unawares
startled · ambushed · outflanked · outmaneuvered · sucker-punched · waylaid · bushwhacked · sandbagged
Suddenly failed or slept
- rammedStruck with force
- smashedBroken or intoxicated
- hitSuccessful contact or strike
- wreckedUtterly destroyed
sideswiped · struck · impacted · clipped · slammed · totaled · crumpled · demolished
Acted aggressively against
- lambastedCriticized very harshly
- blastedDestroyed or damned
- slammedClosed with violent force
- denouncedPublicly accused or condemned
assailed · excoriated · pilloried · skewered · roasted · savaged · hammered · pummeled
Simultaneous weapons discharge
- cannonadeSustained artillery fire
- volleySimultaneous firing burst
- gunportsWarship cannon openings
- man-of-warArmed sailing vessel
ship-of-the-line · frigate · battery · fusillade · naval engagement · warship · cannon fire · seafight
Shocked into speechlessness
- flooredOverwhelmed by surprise
- staggeredShocked or unevenly spaced
- reelingUnsteady from shock
- shell-shockedMentally broken by combat
thunderstruck · gobsmacked · dumbfounded · flabbergasted · knocked for a loop · bowled over · jarred · jolted
blindsided
Surprised by unforeseen impact
- unsuspectingNot anticipating danger
- unawareLacking knowledge of something
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
surprised · startled · ambushed · outflanked · outmaneuvered · sucker-punched · waylaid · bushwhacked · sandbagged · floored
crashed
Suddenly failed or slept
wrecked · sideswiped · struck · impacted · clipped · slammed · totaled · crumpled · demolished · rear-ended
attacked
Acted aggressively against
denounced · assailed · excoriated · pilloried · skewered · roasted · savaged · hammered · pummeled · torn apart
salvo
Simultaneous weapons discharge
man-of-war · ship-of-the-line · frigate · battery · fusillade · naval engagement · warship · cannon fire · seafight · gunnery
stunned
Shocked into speechlessness
shell-shocked · thunderstruck · gobsmacked · dumbfounded · flabbergasted · knocked for a loop · bowled over · jarred · jolted · shaken
- unreadyunprepared, ill-prepared, ill-equipped, unready, not ready
broadsidedrear-ended
Hit from behind
backed into · hit from behind · head-on · head-on collision · clipped
broadsidedforewarned
Notified of coming trouble
prepared · braced · anticipated · ready · on guard
- broadside balladsTopical songs on printed sheets