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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ambush
Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
In basic multiplayer fashion, there are bottlenecked spaces for ambushes, and everything loops together just fine for flanking.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … YOUTH CHAOS – Sports reporter ambushed on air as bizarre teen trend leaves adults baffled.
—FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Noun
Arnold and Evetts are among ten individuals who allegedly took part in an ambush of federal agents at the ICE detention facility, during which authorities say the suspects used fireworks to distract officers while vandalizing vehicles outside the facility.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
In basic multiplayer fashion, there are bottlenecked spaces for ambushes, and everything loops together just fine for flanking.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
This quickly descended into hilarity when the coaches further ambushed their unwilling challengers with a full-court press for the entire 12 minutes.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … YOUTH CHAOS – Sports reporter ambushed on air as bizarre teen trend leaves adults baffled.
—FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
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Real war introduces deception, saturation attacks and human failures.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
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The worker forced the child onto a bed during the attack, and the child’s head struck the edge of the bed and suffered a 2-centimeter laceration, per the statement.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency suggests a wooden, two-door trap to catch armadillos for removal.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
29 Oct. 2025
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The gear, often connected to a trap on the seafloor and a buoy at the surface, can wrap itself around whales’ mouths, tails and bodies, leaving them struggling to feed and even swim.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Early on, federal agents guarding the building deployed tear gas and shot pepper balls in clashes with protesters and arrested some of them, including some charged with felonies on suspicion of assaulting or blocking officers.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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At one point, the seventh-grader was assaulted, leaving bruises.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In other parts of the state, hoop nets and crab snares may be used.—
Linda Zavoral,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
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LaFreniere said the bear had just about worked its way out of the snare, with the cable loop barely holding the bruin by a claw.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ensure a simple-enough menu stays manageable with a to-do list so you’re not waylaid by days-long side quests.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 Oct. 2025
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In Pecos, a shelter employee named Luis gave me a tour while Wright was waylaid by a man in a black pickup truck who wanted to surrender four pit bulls.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Oprah Winfrey dubbed these pajamas one of her favorite things last year, which comes as no surprise, as the brand has been an Oprah’s Favorite Things list mainstay through the years.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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The blackout should come as little surprise to YouTube TV subscribers, who for the last week have seen announcements warning of a stalemate.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But aside from the hard-hitting diplomacy, photographs released by the White House captured a rare candid moment between the two leaders.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
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Lieutenant Dan, a six-year-old tuxedo tabby who doesn’t let paralysis slow him down, captured a majority of the votes in our contest and rose to the title of Fort Worth’s Cutest Cat.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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