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
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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
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ambush
Noel Murray, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Jessen, a World War II veteran who during his nearly 37-year Oakland police career survived an ambush where he and another officer were wounded, was honored at Harry’s Hofbrau during a weekly gathering of retired and active duty Oakland officers and others known as the Thursday Club.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
Josh Yohe, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The tensions began rising after India pointed the blame at Pakistan for Tuesday's deadly attack, in which gunmen ambushed tourists in a scenic meadow in Pahalgam and killed 26 men, mostly Hindus.
—Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Noun
The beasts have developed a new method of ambush in the Wyoming winter, in which some of them stay warm beneath an insulating layer of their frozen kin.
—Noel Murray, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Jessen, a World War II veteran who during his nearly 37-year Oakland police career survived an ambush where he and another officer were wounded, was honored at Harry’s Hofbrau during a weekly gathering of retired and active duty Oakland officers and others known as the Thursday Club.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
Cooper, without even being asked a question, sat in front of reporters and lavished praise on the Panthers, who ambushed his Lightning for most of this series.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The tensions began rising after India pointed the blame at Pakistan for Tuesday's deadly attack, in which gunmen ambushed tourists in a scenic meadow in Pahalgam and killed 26 men, mostly Hindus.
—Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
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But after the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the movie was retooled with a new finale before being released in theaters on June 21, 2002.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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The Pacers, behind an unrelenting uptempo attack and superior depth, have won the third and fourth quarters in both games, as well as overtime in Game 1.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
24 May 2025
Noun
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The bagless self-empty base can hold up to 60 days of dirt and debris, and HEPA filtration traps 99.97% of allergens.—
& John Mihaly,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2025
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When Aliyar breaks a match inside a lock and traps 700 kids in the school playground, he is suspended for a week from school.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
22 May 2025
Verb
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In the process we were assaulted and responded in kind.—
Tom Dreisbach,
NPR,
21 May 2025
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Mace cites allegations that McIver assaulted federal law enforcement officers and unlawfully interfered with operations at a federal immigration detention facility in Newark.—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Noun
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For instance, the researchers uncovered an incident from 2008, when scientists had observed a male chimp freeing an unrelated female from a nylon snare set by hunters to trap game.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 May 2025
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Wild chimpanzees have been observed self-medicating their wounds with plants, providing medical aid to other chimps and even removing others from snares left by human hunters, new research suggests.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
14 May 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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After shaking a few hands and taking many a selfies, the pair walked into an awaiting elevator to go surprise more ticket holders.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
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While watching car auctions together may surprise some, Kidman previously shared that Urban is a car enthusiast with Marie Claire Australia for the magazine's November 2020 issue.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Amid rewards of $20,000 for tips leading to an apprehension, more than 200 law enforcement personnel led by the Louisiana State Police are seeking to capture them and anyone helping them.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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The 24-year-old Concord native captured his first career victory Friday evening, holding off the pack late in the ARCA Menards Series race at Charlotte. Green, the son of 1994 Busch Series champion David Green, soaked in the moment.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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