as in to ambush
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 waylay
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
See All Example Sentences for waylay
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
See All Example Sentences for waylay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waylay
Verb
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The Colorado Avalanche ambushed the Ottawa Senators’ goaltenders so badly Thursday night, the visitors signed a new one in the middle of the game.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
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In another high-profile attack, suspects ambushed authorities at the Prairieland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Two people came out of a nearby apartment and attacked the agent with a snow shovel and broom handle, federal authorities say.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
16 Jan. 2026
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The outlet also said that Rezaei maintained that Iran would abandon any notion of a ceasefire if attacked.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waylay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waylay. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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