ambushed

verb

past tense of ambush
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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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 ambushed 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 However, the night took a turn when Kanye West ambushed Swift’s acceptance speech, creating one of the most infamous moments in the awards show’s history — and subsequently sparking a years-long feud with Swift. — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026 Investigators later determined the shooting happened in the area of Pontiac Lake Road and Summit Drive, where the four men were ambushed by several other men armed with assault rifles. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026 The same 1-2 punch that ambushed Cambridge with 52 points in the Dave Hunter + Corky Kell Classic beat South Gwinnett on Friday 55-20. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Lakanwal ambushed the Guard members outside a subway station three blocks from the White House, according to prosecutors. — Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Baby was arrested, and the ensuing investigation developed a narrative that portrayed her as having ambushed Hari. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2026 Tete was arriving at his residence and waiting for the gate to open when he was ambushed by two armed suspects. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambushed
  1. attacked
  2. assaulted
  3. waylaid
  4. surprised
  5. captured
Verb
  • Shortly after, Iran attacked commercial vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz, unraveling the precarious cease-fire the country had struck with the United States three months earlier.
    — Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Russia also attacked warehouse facilities in the Bucha district of the Kyiv region on Friday, wounding three people, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said on Telegram.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of attacked
Verb
  • According to the Public Defender's Office, officers falsely claimed that Gibson had assaulted them by biting, punching, and wrapping a radio cord around an officer's neck, claims later refuted by video evidence.
    — Senior Editor, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Large private surveys of students at multiple colleges consistently estimate that 1 in 5 college women are assaulted while attending university.
    — Kaitlyn M. Sims, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of assaulted
Verb
  • 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
  • But in the meantime, on their nut-selling quest, Zuriko and Gela are unfortunately — though perhaps inevitably, given that in these parts Murphy’s law is the only one strictly observed — waylaid by highway robbers.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of waylaid
Verb
  • Carleton was surprised by how many older adults were thrilled to join a trial that would guide not only their care, but the treatment of others going forward.
    — Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Atlanta coach Karl Smesko was surprised the Liberty didn't advance the ball.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of surprised
Verb
  • Katie Kirby has created an unforgettable character whose humour, vulnerability, and optimism have captured the hearts of readers around the world.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Some lines were even captured while Minnelli was in a car, to be rerecorded later.
    — Brian Raftery, Vanity Fair, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of captured

Browse Nearby Words

ambush
ambushed
ambusher
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Cite this Entry

“Ambushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambushed. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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