1
as in attacks
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 traps
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 assaults
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 ambushes
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Hamas has used the tunnels to store weapons, hide hostages and stage ambushes of Israeli soldiers.
—Samuel Granados, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
In basic multiplayer fashion, there are bottlenecked spaces for ambushes, and everything loops together just fine for flanking.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Aside from games like volleyball and dominoes, Gach says some children stage fake ambushes on one another while pretending to be government forces or rebel fighters.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
Under an imperial decree, her captors become unlikely allies, guiding Jewish refugees through ambushes, shifting alliances and treacherous waters, while Sara confronts leadership, loyalty and love at a high cost.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
Two months later, the group launched more than two dozen attacks across northeastern Syria, relying on a combination of guerrilla tactics, including small arms fire, ambushes, assassinations, and improvised explosive devices targeting military checkpoints and government vehicles.
—Caroline Rose, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 29 Nov. 2025
In the finale, Aggie — who has already been on the run from the authorities after Nile framed her for the kidnapping and murder of Teddy Fenig — ambushes Nina at her gallery and tries to convince her that Nile killed Maddie and was also responsible for Teddy’s death.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
In the Kill Bill movies, Uma Thurman stars as The Bride, left for dead after her former boss and lover Bill ambushes her wedding rehearsal, shooting her in the head and stealing her unborn child.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
In the months before the surge in operations, police lost 25 armored vehicles to ambushes involving barricades, trenches and Molotov cocktail attacks, authorities said.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Hamas has used the tunnels to store weapons, hide hostages and stage ambushes of Israeli soldiers.
—Samuel Granados, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
In basic multiplayer fashion, there are bottlenecked spaces for ambushes, and everything loops together just fine for flanking.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Aside from games like volleyball and dominoes, Gach says some children stage fake ambushes on one another while pretending to be government forces or rebel fighters.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
Under an imperial decree, her captors become unlikely allies, guiding Jewish refugees through ambushes, shifting alliances and treacherous waters, while Sara confronts leadership, loyalty and love at a high cost.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
Two months later, the group launched more than two dozen attacks across northeastern Syria, relying on a combination of guerrilla tactics, including small arms fire, ambushes, assassinations, and improvised explosive devices targeting military checkpoints and government vehicles.
—Caroline Rose, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
Thurman stars as The Bride, left for dead after her former boss and lover Bill ambushes her wedding rehearsal, shooting her in the head and stealing her unborn child.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 29 Nov. 2025
In the finale, Aggie — who has already been on the run from the authorities after Nile framed her for the kidnapping and murder of Teddy Fenig — ambushes Nina at her gallery and tries to convince her that Nile killed Maddie and was also responsible for Teddy’s death.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
In the Kill Bill movies, Uma Thurman stars as The Bride, left for dead after her former boss and lover Bill ambushes her wedding rehearsal, shooting her in the head and stealing her unborn child.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambushes
Noun
-
According to the independent National Institute for Security Studies in Israel, at least 1,116 people have been killed amid the Israeli attacks in Lebanon since the parallel Iran war began.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has its own navy that also relies on smaller vessels to do swarm attacks and drop mines.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These torons act as microscopic traps for light.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Mar. 2026
-
This time last year, surveillance traps had single-digit counts of black flies.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The White House told ProPublica that anyone who assaults federal immigration agents would be prosecuted.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The Kid also physically assaults Apollonia at one point.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Conservationists-in-the-making can join hands-on efforts like removing poacher snares, clearing invasive plants, or collecting data on endangered species.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Hi-hats and snares appear in fragmentary bursts, icy synths precipitate and evaporate, and Zel slithers wryly in the cut.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Jake Oettinger of the @DallasStars surprises an @AmericanAir flight!—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Technology that feels upscale Where the Trax truly surprises is in its cabin technology.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambushes. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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