Synonyms of ambush

ambush 1 of 2

noun

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

• attack
• ambushment
• trap
• surprise
• ambuscade
• assault
• capture
• hunting
• snare
• charge
• entrapment
• sally
• stalking
• mousetrap

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

• trap
• snare
• ruse
• web
• net
• deception
• trick
• envelopment
• entrapment
• subterfuge
• hazard
• entanglement
• catch
• snag
• pitfall
• duplicity
• cheat
• land mine
• ploy
• cheating
• booby trap
• enmeshment
• double-dealing
• artifice

ambush

2 of 2

verb

ˈam-ˌbu̇sh 

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

• attack
• assault
• waylay
• surprise
• capture
• ambuscade
• trap
• hunt
• strike
• storm
• assail
• stalk
• jump
• tackle
• snare
• entrap
• ensnare
• pounce (on)
• sally
• charge
• net
• mug
• prey (on or upon)
• mousetrap

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ambush

Noun

Require early disclosure of proposals and nominations, which kills the ambush. — Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

The protesters’ attorneys have insisted there was no planned ambush and that the people who took firearms to the demonstration did so for their own protection. — Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Verb

On the fourth day, his team was ambushed and outnumbered by Vietnamese fighters. — Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026

Ex-Rep Elaine Luria ambushed on camera over 2000% net worth spike during tenure. — FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026