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
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
As his teammates thrived, Mitchell was waylaid by illness against the Thunder, shooting only 3-16.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waylay
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
As his teammates thrived, Mitchell was waylaid by illness against the Thunder, shooting only 3-16.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waylay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waylay
Verb
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During a snowstorm outside of Jackson, Wyo., Joel (Pedro Pascal) saves Abby (Dever) from a horde of infected, only to be ambushed.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2025
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But despite the multiple sanctions, the gangs have grown stronger, ambushing and attacking police and soldiers, firing on U.S. embassy vehicles and forcing Haitians, as recently as Thursday night, to flee their burning homes.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Particularly his ability to do things at such high speed and to help begin attacking moves in his own half.—
Philipp Lahm,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Police are searching for three suspects who were caught on video repeatedly attacking a 61-year-old trans woman outside of her convenience store in Los Angeles’ Westlake neighborhood.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waylay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waylay. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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