What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sideswiping
Example
The car was sideswiped by a truck while changing lanes. [sideswiped: past tense verb]
Example
The politician tried to avoid answering the question by sideswiping it and talking about something else. [sideswiping: present participle verb]
Example
The company's profits were sideswiped by the pandemic, even though they were not in the travel industry. [sideswiped: past participle verb]
collide
Example
The two cars collided at the intersection, causing a traffic jam. [collided: past tense verb]
Example
The company's goals collided with the employees' needs for work-life balance. [collided: past tense verb]
Example
The two politicians collided during the debate over healthcare reform. [collided: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Collide is more commonly used than sideswiping in everyday language. Collide is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while sideswiping is more specific and less common.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sideswiping and collide?
Both sideswiping and collide are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
