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
Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2025
Jahn, who shot himself to death on the roof of a three-story office building, was not a member of a political group, is believed to have acted without accomplices, and expected to die during the ambush, authorities said.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Sep. 2025
Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
In episode two, Alex is ambushed by her bosses and a representative from the network’s legal team, who unearthed footage of Alex colluding with Roya and Arsham inside the UBN studio.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Noun
In all of 2024, there were 61 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers nationwide, resulting in 79 officers shot, 18 fatally, according to the National Fraternal Order of Police.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2025
Jahn, who shot himself to death on the roof of a three-story office building, was not a member of a political group, is believed to have acted without accomplices, and expected to die during the ambush, authorities said.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
Upstairs, Linda alleged she was ambushed.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
In episode two, Alex is ambushed by her bosses and a representative from the network’s legal team, who unearthed footage of Alex colluding with Roya and Arsham inside the UBN studio.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
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The Islamists were seen as complicit in India’s worst plane hijack in 1999 and the 2008 attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, which killed several Indian citizens, including two senior diplomats.—
Happymon Jacob,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Shannon will man larger perimeter players, but not necessarily the point of attack as often.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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GahnSmith is joined by Jay Frandsen, a Parks ecosystem scientist conducting water surveys and checking camera traps along the journey.—
Chloe Berge,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
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Even experienced users can fall for these traps.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a statement obtained by multiple outlets, the Department of Homeland Security said the news producer allegedly threw objects at a Border Patrol car and was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Several officers were assaulted during this period, including one struck in the face.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Unfortunately, during his journey, Vasi encountered a wire snare trap, which ended up clamped around his back leg in September 2019.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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Christie Jourdain is band leader and snare drummer for The Original Pinettes, the city’s first all-female brass band that formed in 1991.—
Jenny Adams,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An introduction to the press in November 2019 netted immediate e-commerce sales but Nomasei was waylaid by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, four months in.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
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But underperformance has waylaid each of the last two seasons (159-165 over that period).—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That’s the one that surprised him the most.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Pashkov wasn’t the only pro dancer surprised by the judges during dedication night.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Swift later worked the record into her set, which was then captured for this release on the final date in Vancouver.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
13 Oct. 2025
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The film tracks her increasingly dangerous walk home, capturing the threats children face in public spaces.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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