blindsided

[blahynd-sahy-did]

adjective

1. Sports.,  tackled, hit, or attacked by an opponent on the blind side, out of the player’s field of vision.

   The blindsided offensive lineman was taken down by the defensive tackle coming around the other way.

2. attacked critically or taken by surprise where one is vulnerable, uninformed or unprepared, etc..

   Told by a cryptic university official that his keynote address was being canceled “for political reasons,” the blindsided philanthropist was left searching for answers.

3. (of such an attack, tackle, etc.) delivered from the blind side, unexpectedly, or in a way that exposes or takes advantage of a vulnerability.

   A staff meeting is no place for a blindsided assault on an administrator.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of blindside.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blindsided¹

First recorded in 1985–90; blindside + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; blindside + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

Colombia's security services said they were blindsided by Petro's initial order, which was issued in the evening on social media.

Read more on Barron's

French authorities were blindsided as thieves of all stripes, from lone wolves to organized groups, made quick work of its museums.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The move shocked most people involved with the NBA, and Dallas fans felt blindsided.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The NBA can hardly claim to have been blindsided by the new indictments.

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In each case, sophisticated creditors armed with advanced systems and compliance frameworks were blindsided by opaque privately structured financing arrangements.

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