ambush 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ambush
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

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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

ambush

2 of 2

verb

ˈam-ˌbu̇sh 
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
Stassi is no stranger to an ambush; one of her most iconic Vanderpump Rules scenes remains one of the best ambushes reality TV’s ever seen. — Caroline Framke, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026 Such fleets could patrol submarine cable routes, conduct searches, stage ambushes, and coordinate with underwater sensors, surface vessels, and aerial drones to support future maritime military operations. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
On the day Tran was ambushed, the vehicle circled the area 16 times before the shooting, according to investigators. — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 Tae-ha, who is in Japan on business for Sang-gil, is ambushed by a bunch of men. — Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 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
  • Detectives charged him with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon for the vicious attack that killed his mother, 57-year-old Josefa Soto de Guzman, on Friday.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Just like Ejva, who suddenly needs to learn how to protect the herd and make her family proud, even when a violent attack leaves her struggling.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The team is analyzing microplastics painstakingly collected from plants, rocks, water samples and sticky traps erected along the shoreline.
    — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • This kit makes both jobs simple with tools for cleaning up to 15-foot vents with flexible rods, specialty brushes that fit inside lint traps, and tweezers to reach into all the nooks and crannies.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of trap
Verb
  • Scott and Dylan walked away from faculty members and the video production crew and and Scott allegedly assaulted her in a janitor’s closet.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The reality star and superyacht bosun’s statement comes after Rolling Stone reported last week that he was arrested in Australia last December for assaulting an unnamed 29-year-old woman at a Sydney-area apartment complex.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of assault
Noun
  • While Harry and Meghan’s decision is a surprise to many, royal historian Ed Owens said recent events created a pathway for the couple's return.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For Lush’s head of concepts and collaborations Kalem Brinkworth, the intensity of the group’s fandom was a surprise.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of surprise
Noun
  • The second was a one-handed snare in the corner of the end zone in the opening minutes of the third quarter to give Mandarin a double-digit lead in an eventual 38-21 win over Hollywood McArthur.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
  • On the final note, when the sticks hit the snare for the last time, Ryan dove on top of the crowd.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of snare
Verb
  • Or the family might have simply gotten waylaid by other plans.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
  • Weighty debates about what constitutes the minimum could readily waylay the AI legislative endeavor.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of waylay
Verb
  • Anyone in Livingston County who believes they've been exposed is asked to capture the bat, report the exposure by filling out a form on the health department's website and call department staff at 517‑552‑6882 for testing guidance and next steps.
    — Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The shooting, which was captured on body camera video, set off protests and calls for justice.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of capture

Browse Nearby Words

ambuscading
ambush
ambushed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on ambush

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ambush

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