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
Former President Joe Biden waylaid justice with a flurry of last-minute pardons of his own family members.
—
Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
The Ravens waylaid them in M&T Stadium by 25 points, the Bills’ most lopsided loss in three years.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
Neeson stars as Finbar Murphy, a contract killer whose plans to hang up his gun are waylaid by a nasty bit of business with an I.R.A. faction.
—Jason Bailey, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Linebacker Matt Milano delivered three quarterback hits, waylaid receiver Rashod Bateman on a third-down play to force a field goal and deflected Jackson’s pass on a two-point conversion attempt to tight end Isaiah Likely late in the third quarter.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waylay
Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
The Ravens waylaid them in M&T Stadium by 25 points, the Bills’ most lopsided loss in three years.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
Neeson stars as Finbar Murphy, a contract killer whose plans to hang up his gun are waylaid by a nasty bit of business with an I.R.A. faction.
—Jason Bailey, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Linebacker Matt Milano delivered three quarterback hits, waylaid receiver Rashod Bateman on a third-down play to force a field goal and deflected Jackson’s pass on a two-point conversion attempt to tight end Isaiah Likely late in the third quarter.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waylay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waylay
Verb
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While Rodríguez gave up one run in the first inning after a leadoff double from Ohtani, Sasaki was ambushed for three.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2025
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In Game 2, the Tigers ambushed right-hander Tanner Gordon for six runs on seven hits in the third inning, the biggest blow, a three-run double by Gleyber Torres.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
8 May 2025
Verb
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May 8 India fires attack drones into Pakistan, killing at least two civilians, the Pakistani military says.—
Riazat Butt,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
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Trump acknowledged Democrats would attack Republicans for a tax hike, and that raising taxes was blamed for former President George H.W. Bush’s reelection loss in 1992.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waylay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waylay. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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