blindside
Americanverb (used with object)
-
Sports. to tackle, hit, or attack (an opponent) from the blind side.
The quarterback was blindsided and had the ball knocked out of his hand.
-
to attack critically where a person is vulnerable, uninformed, etc..
The president was blindsided by the press on the latest tax bill.
Etymology
Origin of blindside
First recorded in 1970–75; verb use of noun phrase blind side
Explanation
To blindside is to launch a surprise attack, especially one that comes from an obstructed or hidden place. Your video game army might blindside your friend's army, resulting in your victory. If you come up from behind your brother and shove him, you can say that you blindside him. There is also a more figurative way to blindside someone — simply to do or say something the person is utterly unprepared for. You could blindside your family, for example, by suddenly announcing that you're moving to China. The oldest use of blindside as a verb, around 1968, referred to a football tackle.
Vocabulary lists containing blindside
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Lyrics from "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" by Baz Luhrmann
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Five Feet Apart
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Veteran David Quessenberry, a ninth-year pro who last started a game in 2023, will start in place of Jackson as quarterback Matthew Stafford’s blindside protector.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Tiny funds tend not to last long so the wave of launches this year and next is almost guaranteed to bring hundreds of closures that can blindside unsuspecting owners with tax bills.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
He replaces Matt Fagerson at number eight, with Fagerson switching to blindside flanker.
From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2026
Deaves will start at openside flanker alongside blindside Alex Mann and Aaron Wainwright at No.8.
From Barron's ● Nov. 20, 2025
So, apparently when Grandma said she’d take care of it, she meant she’d blindside Dad and tell him just moments before we got in the cab.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Jordan Firstman’s sincere, funny and genuinely moving debut feature has him playing a queer New York underground party promoter blindsided by the arrival of the 10-year-old son previously unknown to him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
If you have a problem with being blindsided by requests for money, I’d cut ties now.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
Nik said the couple felt "blindsided" by the fact that their sperm donor could withdraw consent at that stage.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Noel, in particular, is blindsided by the impact.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
In two moves, the ablutionist blindsided the careless pawn and removed it from the field.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
It’s more than fair to say that this dust-up isn’t a new development that is blindsiding investors.
From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2025
“It’s been awful. It’s been blindsiding, it’s been a shock because I personally love the L.A. Times and I loved working for you guys and ... that’s gone.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2023
It did this without warning or consulting NPR, blindsiding its leadership.
From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2023
Reckitt recently raised prices on some formulas, blindsiding some parents already frustrated with the struggle to find certain brands.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 28, 2023
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles admit they didn't consult players about the jersey, apologising also for blindsiding them.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2022
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
