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
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
Examples 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
Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
To make the ambush even more inexplicable for Tarrell is that his devout mom is in favor of this, too, despite being just as much a victim of La’Ron’s chaos as Tarrell was.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Ew Staff, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2024
Link and Howell entered the home through the back entrance and went through the living room and hallway when Link, who had his back turned, was ambushed by Sulpizio's husband, Michael, who the sheriff said was armed and ready.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 20 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ambush 
Noun
Seeing the people flee north, Harney feared his cavalry had insufficient time to set the ambush.
—Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
To make the ambush even more inexplicable for Tarrell is that his devout mom is in favor of this, too, despite being just as much a victim of La’Ron’s chaos as Tarrell was.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
When armed robbers ambush the guests — including crime bosses Frank Moten (Samuel L. Jackson) and Cadillac Richie (Terrence Howard) — a desperate Chicken Man turns to Detective JD Hudson (Don Cheadle) to clear his name.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2024
Link and Howell entered the home through the back entrance and went through the living room and hallway when Link, who had his back turned, was ambushed by Sulpizio's husband, Michael, who the sheriff said was armed and ready.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 20 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
-
For the most part, Israel’s response to Hamas’s devastating October 7 attack was confined to the Gaza Strip.Carrie A. Lee, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
-
Episodes often feature logistically complex armed attacks, guided from afar by the top brass, played by the likes of Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Jennifer Ehle, and Bruce McGill.Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Finding new customers cannot and must not be the only solution to solving customer churn—that can be a trap.Agur Jõgi, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
-
Carpets are a home’s No.1 dirt trap and need thorough regular vacuuming.Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
He was arrested in Savannah and is charged with felony counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and obstruction of law enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., said in a statement.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
-
According to reports, Buckshot was assaulted last Thursday (Oct. 31), in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The proliferation of snares is perhaps the most pressing threat to their survival.Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
-
Props to whoever pitched the idea of performing in oversize bug costumes to Weezer, and props to the band for enthusiastically agreeing, because when that camera zooms in on drummer Patrick Wilson hitting a snare while dressed as a praying mantis?Marah Eakin, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2024
Verb
-
Making matters worse, the strike paused waylaid the majority of the plane models making up Boeing’s order backlog.Melvin Backman, Quartz, 24 Oct. 2024
-
Rocky Horror is based on a horror template stretching at least back to 1932’s The Old Dark House: a couple of waylaid, straitlaced travelers end up taking shelter in a house full of freaks.Fran Tirado, Them, 15 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
But even the most devoted cat lovers might be surprised by the results of a new study.Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
-
Watch on Hulu At Witt’s End On December 1, 1994, 19-year-old Melissa Witt drove to surprise her mother at a bowling alley in Fort Smith, Arkansas, but disappeared without a trace.Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Watching Kwon up against this big guy is pretty great, especially when he gets kicked hard into the camera capturing all this.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
-
But Kerr’s point stands: Only casual fans would ever use basic counting stats to try to capture Green’s impact.Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ambush
Cite this Entry
“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share