Synonyms of waylaid

waylaid

verb

past tense of waylay

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambushed
• attacked
• assaulted
• surprised
• captured
• ambuscaded
• assailed
• trapped
• tackled
• stormed
• stalked
• mugged
• hunted
• jumped
• struck
• sallied
• ensnared
• snared
• entrapped
• pounced (on)
• charged
• netted
• preyed (on or upon)
• mousetrapped

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of waylaid

What had been perhaps Buxton’s finest overall season has been waylaid by a hip impingement that’s twice landed him on the IL and wrecked his production even when on the field since the start of July. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Or the family might have simply gotten waylaid by other plans. — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 July 2026

That voyage is soon waylaid, however, when Ulysses' son, Telemachus, is abducted to become a sacrifice to a giant robot Cyclops. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 July 2026

But unlike Odysseus, who survives being waylaid by giants, sorceresses, nymphs, and numerous other distractions, Nolan himself becomes dragged down by the details of his Odyssey. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 July 2026

After making off with a substantial stack of cash from her job to fund a new life with boyfriend Sam Loomis (John Gavin), she gets waylaid by a rainstorm and stops to spend the night at the Bates Motel, run by awkward mama’s boy Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026

Then, minutes into the speech, Santos posted on X that he had been waylaid at the airport. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 2 June 2026

Barbra Streisand was meant to show up to receive a honorary Palme d’Or, but was waylaid by a knee injury. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 23 May 2026

Ruff said on Sunday after the Sabres waylaid the Bruins 6-1 in Boston. — ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026