ambush 1 of 2

Definition of ambushnext
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
By his spiritual discernment, the prophet Elisha was repeatedly able to warn the king of Israel about ambushes planned by the king of Syria. Liesl Ehmke, Christian Science Monitor, 29 June 2026 The film will follow a pregnant woman (Burn) trapped in the Guatemalan wilderness after a violent cartel ambush. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 June 2026
Verb
On the fourth day, his team was ambushed and outnumbered by Vietnamese fighters. Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026 Ex-Rep Elaine Luria ambushed on camera over 2000% net worth spike during tenure. FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
  • The British Army also provided protection from attacks by Native American tribes, giving many settlers little reason to support a rebellion.
    Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Twice in recent days, the United States has launched retaliatory strikes on Iran following drone attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • This is because the infrastructure of the city traps in all of the heat that built up during the day, thus preventing a normal nocturnal cooldown seen in non-urban settings.
    Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • One of the biggest traps organizations fall into is assuming employees already know what behaviors are valued.
    Amee Desjourdy, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The singer, who notably assaulted ex-girlfriend and Fenty beauty mogul Rihanna the night before the 2009 Grammy Awards, pleaded not guilty last year in the Diaw case.
    Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • One of the suspects also assaulted and sprayed paint on a person, and when officers tried to detain the suspects several blocks away at Turk and Taylor streets, other people surrounded and obstructed the officers, police said.
    Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Williams’ decision to leave the position was a big surprise to the mayor, commissioners and residents, though her departure followed months of controversy and scrutiny.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
  • High temperatures inside a car, even when no one is in it, can lead to some dangerous or messy surprises.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • So, bringing the expressive pads allowed people to experiment with making music by sliding their fingers across them, putting a snare in the middle and a rim shot around the edges.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 June 2026
  • Jacob The Lion ALEX BRACZKOWSKI Rescued from a poacher's snare in 2019.
    Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • After making off with a substantial stack of cash from her job to fund a new life with boyfriend Sam Loomis (John Gavin), she gets waylaid by a rainstorm and stops to spend the night at the Bates Motel, run by awkward mama’s boy Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins).
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026
  • Then, minutes into the speech, Santos posted on X that he had been waylaid at the airport.
    Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Twin brothers Mike and Bob Bryan capture their fourth straight major with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo at Wimbledon.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Surveillance cameras captured a person dressed in dark clothing on a nearby roof overlooking the courtyard less than ten minutes before the killing, prosecutors said in charging documents.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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