ambush 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ambushnext
1
as in attack
a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait revolutionaries laid in ambush for the king along the route his carriage would travel

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
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

ambush

2 of 2

verb

ˈam-ˌbu̇sh How to pronounce ambush (audio)
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ambush
Noun
In his account of the era, the Roman historian Cassius Dio described a Ceretani ambush on the general’s soldiers around 39 BCE. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026 On the night of the ambush, Juggut Singh, a Sikh villager, cuts the rope moments before the train passes. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Verb
After ambushing Nobel hopeful Kersten onboard, Wohmann makes multiple attempts to interview him. — Alissa Simon, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 Whatever subtext is there bubbles to the surface in the next scene, when Bret is ambushed by Debbie’s mother, Liz (Evan Rachel Wood), who is too sloshed to bite her tongue and starts asking after her husband. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
  1. attack
  2. trap
  3. assault
  4. surprise
  5. snare
  6. waylay
  7. capture
Noun
  • Despite distancing herself from her Democratic predecessor, Klobuchar faced attacks from Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who ran in the Republican primary, arguing that her leadership would be tantamount to giving Walz another term.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026
  • While mass shootings are still rare in Thailand, the country has seen an uptick in high-profile attacks in recent years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • According to the Solano Wildlife Rescue and Education Center, a female coyote was found in the trap near a creek, just off Suisun Valley Road in Fairfield.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The pitching staff is missing RHPs Brandon Woodruff (shoulder), Joel Kuhnel (rotator cuff) and Quinn Priester (thoracic outlet syndrome) and LHPs JoJo Romero (appendectomy), Rob Zastryzny (trap), Angel Zerpa (forearm) and Brian Fitzpatrick (UCL).
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of trap
Verb
  • Police say the victim courageously fought for her life and escaped to the breezeway of the apartment, screaming for help as Reyes continued to assault her.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In addition to the federal investigations, Mills has been accused of misrepresenting his military record, engaging in unethical business dealings, assaulting a girlfriend and stalking an ex-girlfriend.
    — Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of assault
Noun
  • Cape Verde’s fairytale run in the 2026 World Cup caught a lot of people by surprise – but not Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo.
    — Andrew McNicol, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • So, perhaps there should be little surprise over the next three venues on the list.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprise
Noun
  • On the final note, when the sticks hit the snare for the last time, Ryan dove on top of the crowd.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The team covers 6 to 12 miles a day on foot, tracking poachers and their snares.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of snare
Verb
  • Or the family might have simply gotten waylaid by other plans.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
  • Weighty debates about what constitutes the minimum could readily waylay the AI legislative endeavor.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of waylay
Verb
  • But a single letter can’t capture everyone’s experience all of the time – let alone a $31 trillion economy that is the biggest and most diverse in the world.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This is similar to what Corlys urges Rhaenyra to do in the book, though the book version is more expansive and Corlys is never captured in the first place.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of capture

Browse Nearby Words

ambuscading
ambush
ambushed
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Cite this Entry

“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ambush

Nglish: Translation of ambush for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ambush

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