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
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
Riots outside a hotel housing migrants in Ireland’s capital, Dublin, took a grave turn on Tuesday evening when a Gardaí (Irish police) van was set on fire and officers were ambushed with bricks, fireworks, and glass bottles.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
After pinning Roxanne Perez inside the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Stephanie Vaquer was ambushed by Raquel Rodriguez.
—Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
More than a year after a 63-year-old woman was ambushed and killed along a walking trail, a man has been charged, Texas officials say.
—Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2025
Victims of the inmates include a family of four, a college student kidnapped from her bedroom, and a state trooper who was ambushed in his driveway.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
In September 1986, Pinochet’s motorcade was ambushed and five soldiers were killed and many others injured.
—Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Authorities said the attackers ambushed the convoy with fireworks, molotov cocktails and rocks.
—Isa Cardona, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Riots outside a hotel housing migrants in Ireland’s capital, Dublin, took a grave turn on Tuesday evening when a Gardaí (Irish police) van was set on fire and officers were ambushed with bricks, fireworks, and glass bottles.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
After pinning Roxanne Perez inside the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Stephanie Vaquer was ambushed by Raquel Rodriguez.
—Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
More than a year after a 63-year-old woman was ambushed and killed along a walking trail, a man has been charged, Texas officials say.
—Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2025
Victims of the inmates include a family of four, a college student kidnapped from her bedroom, and a state trooper who was ambushed in his driveway.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
In September 1986, Pinochet’s motorcade was ambushed and five soldiers were killed and many others injured.
—Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Authorities said the attackers ambushed the convoy with fireworks, molotov cocktails and rocks.
—Isa Cardona, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambushed
Verb
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On August 22, she was attacked while on a Charlotte light train in what police described as an unprovoked stabbing.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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Ruben Amorim’s men attacked with precision and purpose at Old Trafford.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The girl was between the ages of 4 and 10 when she was assaulted.—
Ryanne Mena,
Oc Register,
25 Oct. 2025
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Thursday morning, when a Towson University student notified police that they had been assaulted in Parking Lot 11 on campus, the university said in a statement to Fox News Digital.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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In Pecos, a shelter employee named Luis gave me a tour while Wright was waylaid by a man in a black pickup truck who wanted to surrender four pit bulls.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After surviving the massacre and making a recovery that surprised even her doctors, Sophia returned home in time to celebrate her upcoming 13th birthday, a family spokesperson told CNN.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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Getting Better Every Day When asked about the Blue Jays’ strategy, Shapiro’s answer surprised students expecting to hear about championships first.—
Karl Moore,
Forbes.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Abella and her friend Darcie navigate challenges, such as being captured by a bee, the new responsibility of receiving a magic wand, and helping a horse with a toothache, with grace and curiosity.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
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For each sculpture, Tolaas captured molecules present during its material creation, alongside scents drawn from the animals themselves, their habitats and their interactions with humans.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambushed. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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