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
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
David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
That same year, ISIS' presence in Africa drew headlines when four U.S. soldiers and five Nigerien personnel were killed in an ambush staged by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), also known as Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP).
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Aug. 2025
Time, 18 July 2025
The Terminal List original series centered on James Reece (Pratt) after his entire platoon of Navy SEALs was ambushed during a high-stakes covert mission.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Noun
Fiber drones seem to be popular for ambush attacks, because the connection via a fiber optic cable uses less energy than maintaining video contact.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
That same year, ISIS' presence in Africa drew headlines when four U.S. soldiers and five Nigerien personnel were killed in an ambush staged by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), also known as Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP).
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Aug. 2025
Verb
The scheme unravels further when Midas and his partner Misterio—the trafficker Midas started working with in his teenage years—are ambushed by police; Misterio is killed and Midas escapes.
—Time, 18 July 2025
The Terminal List original series centered on James Reece (Pratt) after his entire platoon of Navy SEALs was ambushed during a high-stakes covert mission.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
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Education has been under attack in Florida for decades; the dumbing down of our schools and society is notorious.—
Robert Kesten,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
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But just this week, BPD arrested two undocumented immigrants caught on camera carrying out a violent attack in Canton.—
WBFF STAFF,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Opportunities without support are traps in disguise.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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One player who might not be a trap however is one of Pep Guardiola’s newest recruits: Tijjani Reijnders.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The reigning 100-meter world champion sprinter also issued an apology to her boyfriend after allegedly assaulting him in a Seattle airport.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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The passenger did not physically assault anyone on the aircraft, and no injuries were reported, according to police.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Utilizing cameras to target offenders can both help the police deploy limited resources efficiently and — when combined with facial recognition or bike-registration data — snare offenders remotely.—
Steve Cohen,
New York Daily News,
13 July 2025
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The absence of lobster traps and not being poked and prodded by divers armed with snares, tickle sticks and nets for nearly four months usually results in an abundance of bugs, a term that refers to the insect-like appearance of lobsters.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
5 July 2025
Verb
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However, their celebratory moment was waylaid when a bumblebee set its sights on the actress.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Traditions are waylaid, revised, or simply forgotten in assimilation’s slow creep.—
Terry Nguyen
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
Verb
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The scientists were surprised by how forceful human embryos are, especially compared to mouse embryos, which appear to lie passively as a womb envelopes them.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
15 Aug. 2025
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Indeed, Berkshire's disclosure surprised many market watchers: UnitedHealth has become the face of public dissatisfaction with the country's health care system, is currently facing an investigation into its Medicare billing practices and issued disappointing guidance last month.—
Josephine Rozzelle,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But rather than capturing the madness of the era, Lee drowns in sub-Scorsese excess, confusing saying a lot of things bluntly with saying something meaningful.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
16 Aug. 2025
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Recent data released by Modern Health captures just how stark the reality is.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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