ambush 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ambushnext
1
as in attack
a setup in which hidden attackers lie in wait revolutionaries laid in ambush for the king along the route his carriage would travel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in trap
a device or scheme for capturing another by surprise thinking that he was getting into his assigned limousine, the diplomat did not realize that he was the victim of an ambush as he was being lured into his captor's car

Synonyms & Similar Words

ambush

2 of 2

verb

ˈam-ˌbu̇sh How to pronounce ambush (audio)
as in to attack
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise the king's enemies planned to ambush the royal coach on the way to Paris and capture the king

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ambush
Noun
The ambush-style slaying, carried out in broad daylight, rattled law enforcement and the surrounding Palmdale community. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Federal agents have arrested a woman officials say supplied a gun to the felon who killed four police officers in a 2024 ambush in Charlotte, officials said Monday. — Andrew Dys, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
Shot in the Canary Islands, Doom Scroll watches as a family’s Passover Seder is ambushed by intruders hungry for revenge, viral fame and power. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026 The White Sox ambushed Houston ace Hunter Brown in a four-run first inning. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
  1. attack
  2. trap
  3. assault
  4. surprise
  5. snare
  6. waylay
  7. capture
Noun
  • In his statement, Dan also blamed Russia for a spate of attacks in recent weeks on civilian maritime transport in the Black Sea, which has left at least three people dead and has raised fears of an escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine.
    — STEPHEN McGRATH, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The attack ads that exaggerate and lie about their opponents, without mentioning their myopic support for their dear leader whose baggage has destroyed America’s standing in the world, are astounding.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The hacker set a trap designed to lure the impostor into claiming more Bitcoin.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The personalization trap The core of the problem is that Google wants its products and services to talk to each other.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of trap
Verb
  • Becerril had been assaulted before his body was placed in the trunk, according to the CHP.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The women, who don't know each other, allege they were assaulted by Brand between 1999 and 2009 in locations including workplaces, a hotel room and a bathroom at a bar.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of assault
Noun
  • Let the surprise expand the conversation instead of ending it.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Last month, Sufjan Stevens made a surprise onstage appearance during Meg Lui’s show at Tempo in Kingston, New York.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of surprise
Noun
  • In California, 387 were killed with neck snares, 44 with foothold traps and 2,200 shot with firearms.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Chase and Tee Higgins turn potential incompletions into 6-point snares.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of snare
Verb
  • On this day, the Dream had the chance to go up three games to one in the best-of-seven series after waylaying the Valkyries in Games 2 and 3.
    — KEN SUGIURA, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • With all that swirling around them, the presidential motorcade meant to bring Kate, Hal, Grace, and Todd back to Air Force One gets waylaid by protesters blocking the entrance to Heathrow airport.
    — Adam B. Vary, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of waylay
Verb
  • Long-duration observations can help researchers study changes that are difficult to capture during short research cruises, while onboard engineering facilities could support testing of marine equipment and systems.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • ClearSpace's mission could help prove that robotic spacecraft can safely capture objects that were never designed for servicing.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of capture

Browse Nearby Words

ambuscading
ambush
ambushed
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Cite this Entry

“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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