Synonyms of waylay

waylay

verb

ˈwā-ˌlā 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambush
• attack
• capture
• assault
• surprise
• ambuscade
• assail
• trap
• tackle
• hunt
• entrap
• ensnare
• strike
• jump
• stalk
• sally
• snare
• storm
• pounce (on)
• charge
• net
• prey (on or upon)
• mug
• mousetrap

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of waylay

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

United’s on-field underperformance has waylaid their finances for years, so an inversion of that this season has been very helpful. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 27 May 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