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
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
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
An introduction to the press in November 2019 netted immediate e-commerce sales but Nomasei was waylaid by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, four months in.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
But underperformance has waylaid each of the last two seasons (159-165 over that period).
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
On the Padres’ meandering stroll to the postseason, they were almost waylaid again by the walk.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
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
However, their celebratory moment was waylaid when a bumblebee set its sights on the actress.
—Michael Nied, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
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
An introduction to the press in November 2019 netted immediate e-commerce sales but Nomasei was waylaid by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, four months in.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
But underperformance has waylaid each of the last two seasons (159-165 over that period).
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
On the Padres’ meandering stroll to the postseason, they were almost waylaid again by the walk.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
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
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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Continue reading … YOUTH CHAOS – Sports reporter ambushed on air as bizarre teen trend leaves adults baffled.—
,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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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
Verb
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In one attack in mid-September, the militants attacked a convoy of more than 100 fuel trucks, setting fire to half of them, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), which maps conflicts.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who has trailed Spanberger for most of the race, has attacked Spanberger over Democrats' positions on the government shutdown and focused on trans issues, which helped Republicans win the governor's mansion in 2021.—
Benjamin Siegel,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waylaid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waylaid. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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