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

Relevance
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
The ambush-style slaying, carried out in broad daylight, rattled law enforcement and the surrounding Palmdale community. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Federal agents have arrested a woman officials say supplied a gun to the felon who killed four police officers in a 2024 ambush in Charlotte, officials said Monday. — Andrew Dys, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
Shot in the Canary Islands, Doom Scroll watches as a family’s Passover Seder is ambushed by intruders hungry for revenge, viral fame and power. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026 The White Sox ambushed Houston ace Hunter Brown in a four-run first inning. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 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
  • On three separate occasions in the past week, Ukraine didn’t receive early warnings about missile attacks.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
  • OpenCode had been running its defense with an OpenAI model, which started to refuse its requests in the middle of the attack.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Sticky traps with dead insects on them were seen under dry storage area and on the side of a deep freezer.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
  • These traps kill rats, but also gather information about movements and population sizes, according to the health district.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of trap
Verb
  • Becerril had been assaulted before his body was placed in the trunk, according to the CHP.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The women, who don't know each other, allege they were assaulted by Brand between 1999 and 2009 in locations including workplaces, a hotel room and a bathroom at a bar.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of assault
Noun
  • From a computational perspective, Friston argues, attempting to reduce uncertainty—basically, working to avoid unpleasant surprises—is the brain’s primary goal.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Students had a surprise visitor — Kendall Jenner, who popped in to their classroom, looking way collegiate in an all-white outfit and sweater around her neck.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of surprise
Noun
  • In California, 387 were killed with neck snares, 44 with foothold traps and 2,200 shot with firearms.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Chase and Tee Higgins turn potential incompletions into 6-point snares.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of snare
Verb
  • With all that swirling around them, the presidential motorcade meant to bring Kate, Hal, Grace, and Todd back to Air Force One gets waylaid by protesters blocking the entrance to Heathrow airport.
    — Adam B. Vary, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In the film Rap World (which Bensinger also edited), Bensinger, O’Malley, and Rahill play suburban deadbeats eager to make an album, each man waylaid by his own hubris and distractions.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of waylay
Verb
  • Meta's popular smart glasses can take photos, capture video and record voice notes or reminders.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Annie Palmer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
  • All three ships would be based out of Port Canaveral to support capture out at sea of the New Glenn rocket first stages after launch.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 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 24 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ambush

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