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

KION-TV’s news anchors, producers and other employees said they were confused and blindsided by the decision to immediately lay off the more than a dozen employees involved in news operations.

From Los Angeles Times

A number of SNP insiders I've spoken to seem a bit blindsided by this development.

From BBC

Sarover says she was "blindsided" by the breakup, which happened "so abruptly".

From BBC

But in rural western Fresno County — where energy firms have planned multiple large-scale battery and solar projects — many residents feel blindsided.

From Los Angeles Times

The Chargers were blindsided in the truest sense.

From Los Angeles Times