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
But then, on February 28th, Vance tag-teamed with Trump in the Oval Office ambush of Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2025 Watch Whoopi Goldberg lead The View cohosts singing, dancing about harmful tariffs to the tune of 'The Hokey Pokey' Naturally, this led to a live View ambush, with Teta and Behar cold-calling Haines during the recording. EW.com, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
The large sleek lions hunt alone, ambushing their prey with their curved retractile claws from behind and killing with a bite to the skull. Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025 The suspect drove away in a white pickup truck and ambushed another officer who was driving on West Margarita Street, south of the original crime scene, Bryan said. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
  • On Friday, a Russian ballistic missile and drone attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih -- Zelenskyy's home town -- killed 19 people, including nine children.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2025
  • There has been a big labor split, however, with carpenters and laborers unions going heavily for Moreno — and waging tough attacks against Aguirre.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In one scene from their lives, a bear trap is intentionally left for Benjy to wander into it.
    Justin Porter, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Man traps woman in car for days: Police A Hawaii man was arrested for allegedly trapping an elderly woman in her car for several days and later forcing her to withdraw money from her bank account, according to the Honolulu Police Department.
    Megan Forrester, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The filing stated that in one incident, McCarrick assaulted the victim, a teenage boy, at a wedding reception in Massachusetts in 1974.
    Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
  • An investigation revealed the three victims were assaulted and robbed by the suspects, who are all believed to be associates of a criminal street gang, police said.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to his work in the wind ensemble, Gael has been a key member of the marching band and indoor drumline, serving as lead snare drummer.
    Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Echoing the raw feelings of heartbreak, the album is stripped back, with sparse snares and cymbals in lieu of a full drumkit.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Without the mesh, the moisture evaporates in the dry air as the temperature rises each day, but with it, the fog would be only temporarily waylaid– providing valuable fresh water to people, before it’s treated and cycled back into the ocean.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 20 Feb. 2025
  • In late November, Israeli forces opened fire on looters waiting to waylay trucks in Rafah, forcing them to retreat, according to an internal U.N. memo.
    Adam Rasgon, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • On March 14, Parton surprised fans by appearing at Dollywood's Celebrity Theater in honor of Dollywood’s 40th anniversary.
    Elizabeth Stanton, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • During a press conference on Thursday (Apr. 3), Raleigh festival organizers surprised fans by revealing that Dreamville Fest will return in the future under a new iteration.
    Kyle Denis, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The topic of longevity has recently captured the public imagination, thanks in part to the success of Netflix documentaries like Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones and Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever.
    Tomoko Yokoi, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The footage, captured at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, allegedly showed Ventura walking toward a bank of elevators as Combs chased after her, then grabbing her by the neck and tossing her to the floor before turning to violently kick her and grab her purse and suitcase.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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