sideswipe
Strike while passing
Sideswipe describes a glancing blow along the side of something, typically a vehicle: A truck sideswiped my car in the parking lot.
The contact is oblique rather than head-on.
Figuratively, a sideswipe is an incidental criticism or attack—not the main point but a passing shot: The article was about inflation but included a sideswipe at the Fed chairman.
Minor vehicle collision
- scrapeRub harshly against
- dentShallow surface depression
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- clipCut or attach
graze · bump · mirror · door · paint · bodywork · panel · bumper
Quick, straight blow
- digUnearth by shoveling
- snipeHidden-position shooting
- potshoteasy target attack
- barbBackward-pointing spike
insult · slight · put-down · zinger · quip · remark · insinuation · taunt
Surprised by unforeseen impact
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- caught-off-guardSurprised without warning
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
unforeseen · sudden · abrupt · jolt · startle · unsettle · disconcert · unsuspecting
fender-bender
Minor vehicle collision
clip · graze · bump · mirror · door · paint · bodywork · panel · bumper · merge
jab
Quick, straight blow
barb · insult · slight · put-down · zinger · quip · remark · insinuation · taunt · gibe
blindsided
Surprised by unforeseen impact
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- caught-off-guardSurprised without warning
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
shock · unforeseen · sudden · abrupt · jolt · startle · unsettle · disconcert · unsuspecting · unprepared
- accidentsaccident, car accident, bike accident, mishap, traffic accident
- crashesaccident, collision, crash, head-on collision, pileup
- driving slangfloor it, gun it, pedal to the metal, pedal to metal, peel out
- impactsbang, bash, bump, clash, collide
- traffic incidentsaccident, collision, car crash, pileup, fender bender
- traffic violationsDUI, DWI, speeding, drunk driving, red light running
sideswipehead-on collision
Direct front-to-front impact
direct hit · head-on crash · frontal impact · T-bone · rear-end
sideswipecompliment
Words expressing approval
praise · flattery · approval · endorsement · tribute