ambush 1 of 2

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

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ambush

2 of 2

verb

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

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
Watch Burr discuss the ambush on The Rich Eisen Show below. Shania Russell, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2025 The foursome went door to door in the Senate to get support for an investigation into the dangerous ambush. Aquilino Gonell, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2025
Verb
The men were usually ambushed at the homes by Hansen and law enforcement before being arrested. Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025 He was allegedly ambushed in the parking lot, kidnapped, robbed and murdered; his apartment was also burglarized, according to police reports. Bethany Blankley | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ambush 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
  • Former President Joe Biden issued Fauci a pre-emptive federal pardon as a hedge against what Biden said could be politically motivated attacks.
    Jim Turner, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2025
  • On Friday and Saturday, the pope spoke on the phone to Rev. Gabriel Romanelli and his assistant, Father Yusuf Asad, in Gaza City, northern Gaza – who have been in frequent communication since Israel launched its war following the October 7 attacks.
    Antonia Mortensen, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Listen to this article Rodent issues — including one found alive in a sticky trap at an Italian restaurant and more than 40 droppings in a taco spot’s kitchen — were among the violations that led the state to temporarily shut nine South Florida restaurants last week.
    Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Determined to resolve the situation, the OP set a trap.
    Darlin Tillery, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • But from the perspective of Mark, he has been assaulted.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2025
  • During one of these ambushes, the settlers come after you, Basel, and during another, the soldiers also physically assault you.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Four tenors, four snares and two bass have been ordered through Axel Johnson.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Poaching remains a significant threat, with snares and poison traps claiming countless lives each year.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • On the corporate front, the timing of the showdown has not been ideal for Paramount, whose pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media has been waylaid by complaints about CBS News by President Donald Trump.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • The final scene of the final episode of Cobra Kai is a pitch-perfect callback to a scene in the original 1984 Karate Kid movie where Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) surprises Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) by catching a fly with his chopsticks.
    Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
  • In the end, Torres’ exhaustive devotion to detail proved effective in ways that surprised even her.
    Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Photos from the protest captured the demonstrator being arrested by Capitol Police, while the MAGA supporter was pictured with a streak of blue spray paint across the side of his face.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Following that initial maneuver, the Blue Ghost captured two new incredible shots – one of Earth with the moon in the distance and one of Earth reflecting off the spacecraft's solar panel with the moon on the horizon.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near ambush

Cite this Entry

“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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