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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waylay
If you’re waylaid by a technical snag, email the smart people at cookingcare@nytimes.com for help.
—
Melissa Clark, New York Times, 21 May 2025
The Great Arch delves into the nitty-gritty details of erecting a public structure in a country where government red tape sticks to everything, and creativity is often waylaid by political and budgetary realities.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
Then in 1967 he was waylaid in his car by criminals who shot him and killed his wife, Pauline.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
An attempt to meet with him in late spring was waylaid, in part, by the fallout from Lewis’s disastrous all-hands meeting.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for waylay
Melissa Clark, New York Times, 21 May 2025
The Great Arch delves into the nitty-gritty details of erecting a public structure in a country where government red tape sticks to everything, and creativity is often waylaid by political and budgetary realities.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
Then in 1967 he was waylaid in his car by criminals who shot him and killed his wife, Pauline.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
An attempt to meet with him in late spring was waylaid, in part, by the fallout from Lewis’s disastrous all-hands meeting.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for waylay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waylay
Verb
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After ambushing a group of pink guards in the quarters, the rebels, armed with guns, made their way to the colorful stairwells.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
People.com,
27 June 2025
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When young Litha is introduced to the magic of a game reserve by the last remaining ranger, they are ambushed by poachers.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Boone acknowledged that location will be key for Stroman, who can no longer attack hitters head-on at this stage of his career.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
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The wild and ugly scenes saw rioters attack law enforcement with rocks and Molotov cocktails while others burned vehicles and other property.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waylay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waylay. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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