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as in trap
a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise
thinking that he was getting into his assigned limousine, the diplomat did not realize that he was the victim of an ambush as he was being lured into his captor's car
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to attack
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise
the king's enemies planned to ambush the royal coach on the way to Paris and capture the king
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ambush
ABC News,
18 June 2026
The trio, taken into custody shortly after the attack, admitted under questioning to participating in the ambush at the Mexican grill, but none of the three suspects confessed to being the stabber, according to a law enforcement source.
—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
Angela Haupt,
Time,
18 June 2026
He feels emotionally ambushed, and what plays out is as if Marriage Story were an absolute chucklefest, as Lestat gets increasingly worked up and jealous over Louis’s relationships with other men.
—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Noun
Capers called in air support to repel the ambush.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
The trio, taken into custody shortly after the attack, admitted under questioning to participating in the ambush at the Mexican grill, but none of the three suspects confessed to being the stabber, according to a law enforcement source.
—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
Verb
For one thing, don’t ambush your dad.
—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
18 June 2026
He feels emotionally ambushed, and what plays out is as if Marriage Story were an absolute chucklefest, as Lestat gets increasingly worked up and jealous over Louis’s relationships with other men.
—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
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One of the dogs involved in the attack was later found in Los Angeles County and seized.
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Two people were killed and seven others injured in Russian attacks on the northeastern Kharkiv region over the previous 24 hours, regional head Oleh Syniehubov said Friday.
Noun
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This is because the infrastructure of the city traps in all of the heat that built up during the day, thus preventing a normal nocturnal cooldown seen in non-urban settings.
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One of the biggest traps organizations fall into is assuming employees already know what behaviors are valued.
Verb
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The unrest began in mid-March but has intensified, leaving at least three dead as vigilantes armed with spears, clubs, and whips assaulted migrants and destroyed their homes.
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Witnesses told police that the victim had called and reported that O’Neal had assaulted her, the witnesses told police.
Noun
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The race to replace Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who announced her retirement earlier this month, led to a surprise entry by a candidate with a familiar name.
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July 3 could bring shocks or surprises; just beware of being too risky or impulsive.
Noun
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Further down the street, a troupe of drummers held court with a mix of snares and bass.
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Studio engineers often added percussion accents like shakers or tambourines, or handclaps layered on the snares, using a combination of texture and mathematical precision to keep heads and hips moving.
Verb
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After making off with a substantial stack of cash from her job to fund a new life with boyfriend Sam Loomis (John Gavin), she gets waylaid by a rainstorm and stops to spend the night at the Bates Motel, run by awkward mama’s boy Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins).
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Then, minutes into the speech, Santos posted on X that he had been waylaid at the airport.
Verb
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Night is falling in Altadena as bats circle, peacocks wail and photographer Kevin Cooley tries to capture what’s left of a tree.
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The new glasses can play music, translate languages and answer questions about a person’s surroundings by capturing images with the glasses’ cameras, like Meta’s Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses.
Cite this Entry
“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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