as in ambushed
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise
a lonely stretch of highway along which unsuspecting tourists are often waylaid by gangs
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Recent Examples of waylaid
Still, plenty of players have had fast starts to their careers only to be waylaid by health issues or bizarre regressions.
—
Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
McDonald had grown up attending church services, but decades of addiction and abuse had waylaid her.
—Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
However, their celebratory moment was waylaid when a bumblebee set its sights on the actress.
—Michael Nied, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
McDonald had grown up attending church services, but decades of addiction and abuse had waylaid her.
—Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
However, their celebratory moment was waylaid when a bumblebee set its sights on the actress.
—Michael Nied, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waylaid
Verb
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In 1935, Qassam and two of his followers ambushed a group of British Mandate policemen, murdering a Jewish sergeant.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Nationals ambushed Mazur to start the game.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Captured on live television, rioters attacked the Capitol and breached the Senate floor.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
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In 1986, Iranian warplanes attacked Emirati oil platforms off the coast of the capital, Abu Dhabi.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waylaid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waylaid. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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