as in attacked
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
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Recent Examples of ambushed
In 2010, while covering an event in Lara, a western state that has long been a government stronghold, he and several fellow journalists were ambushed by a mob of militants loyal to the regime.
—
Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
And after a Washington woman was repeatedly ambushed by an owl while walking in the woods near her house in 2022, biologists report that the occurrence is becoming more frequent.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
The match was competitive before El Grande Americano's faction ambushed both Penta and Rusev to cause the no-contest ruling.
—Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
The former footballer shrank away in horror, as he was ambushed from behind by a masked man during a broadcast, all as part of a pre-Halloween prank.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
As Tea leaves with her colleague Yasin, their car is ambushed.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
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
But instead Lane, then 34, ambushed her — setting off a violent scramble through the residence that left Wilkins unconscious, her fetus cut from her womb.
—Jillian Frankel, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
And after a Washington woman was repeatedly ambushed by an owl while walking in the woods near her house in 2022, biologists report that the occurrence is becoming more frequent.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
The match was competitive before El Grande Americano's faction ambushed both Penta and Rusev to cause the no-contest ruling.
—Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
The former footballer shrank away in horror, as he was ambushed from behind by a masked man during a broadcast, all as part of a pre-Halloween prank.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
As Tea leaves with her colleague Yasin, their car is ambushed.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
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
But instead Lane, then 34, ambushed her — setting off a violent scramble through the residence that left Wilkins unconscious, her fetus cut from her womb.
—Jillian Frankel, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambushed
Verb
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Crabtree stopped, turned, attacked the ball and snagged it.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Nelson claimed to police that the man attacked her and their son after opening the car door.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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An 88-year-old Seattle woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after a man violently assaulted and robbed her, biting off her finger and stealing her jewelry, police say.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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The former Fox Sports analyst allegedly assaulted 69-year-old Perry Tole in an alley, and the ensuing fight left both men hospitalized with serious injuries.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Google had hoped to void those changes with an appeal, but the ruling issued in July by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a legal blow for the tech giant, which has been waylaid in three separate antitrust trials affecting different pillars of its internet empire.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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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
Verb
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That was the case even if the extent of their subsequent slump — four consecutive Premier League defeats, six losses out of seven in all competitions — surprised everybody.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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Goodwin, surprised, thanked her effusively.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The vehicle reportedly sped into a shopping plaza, where the incident — captured on video — unfolded.—
Bonny Chu , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Among the artists captured in the images are Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker.—
Amy Carleton,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambushed. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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