as in attacked
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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Recent Examples of ambushed
While serving a tour of duty outside the province of Kandahar in Afghanistan in August of 2011, he was ambushed by Taliban insurgents disguised in Afghan National Army uniforms.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
One morning in 1980, Carl Fletcher, head of one of the richest Jewish families in Long Island and owner of a local plastics factory, is ambushed and kidnapped from his driveway.
—The Know, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
In the first inning, when the Tigers both waited out Pivetta and ambushed him, three of his 18 four-seam fastballs were in the strike zone.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
When their transport convoy is ambushed, the two are forced to run while being shackled to each other and need to work together to reach their destination alive and on time.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
Thousands of immigrants have been ambushed by masked ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza over the past year while walking out of court hearings and held in custody at the complex, according to ICE data obtained by the Deportation Data Project.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Law enforcement officials said the officer was ambushed by two gunmen and shot while driving an unmarked white Tesla while working on an undercover investigation.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
Park Service Police Chief Scott Brecht told reporters late Monday night that at least two officers were driving in an unmarked white Tesla during an ongoing investigation when two gunmen ambushed them.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Gunmen ambushed and killed security personnel in Nigeria’s Plateau state.
—ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
One morning in 1980, Carl Fletcher, head of one of the richest Jewish families in Long Island and owner of a local plastics factory, is ambushed and kidnapped from his driveway.
—The Know, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
In the first inning, when the Tigers both waited out Pivetta and ambushed him, three of his 18 four-seam fastballs were in the strike zone.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
When their transport convoy is ambushed, the two are forced to run while being shackled to each other and need to work together to reach their destination alive and on time.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
Thousands of immigrants have been ambushed by masked ICE agents at 26 Federal Plaza over the past year while walking out of court hearings and held in custody at the complex, according to ICE data obtained by the Deportation Data Project.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Law enforcement officials said the officer was ambushed by two gunmen and shot while driving an unmarked white Tesla while working on an undercover investigation.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
Park Service Police Chief Scott Brecht told reporters late Monday night that at least two officers were driving in an unmarked white Tesla during an ongoing investigation when two gunmen ambushed them.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Gunmen ambushed and killed security personnel in Nigeria’s Plateau state.
—ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambushed
Verb
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Kuwait’s Al Salmi tanker was attacked at the port connected to the United Arab Emirates city better known as a destination for influencers, Reuters and The New York Times reported.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Houthis have previously attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea to disrupt the flow of oil, gas and other commodities through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The sole occupant of the home was assaulted and tied up before the suspect stole several items from the home, including a vehicle, then used that vehicle to flee the scene, according to LeLacheur.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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Two other people were assaulted during the altercation but were not shot.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Thousands of passengers and crew were caught on vessels waylaid in ports in the UAE and Qatar.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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In season two, the pair head north to Darwin to help solve the murder of Eddie’s former partner but get waylaid investigating a murder in a remote river town of Barra Creek.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Its most iconic product surprised even the engineers who built it.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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The battle even surprised Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For the seventh year in a row, Walmart captured more money from Charlotte-area shoppers than any other grocery store, despite intense competition from local grocers like Harris Teeter and Food Lion.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
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Gary Hershorn captured those same skyscrapers as the moon passed behind the spire of the Empire State Building from Union City, New Jersey, revealing more of the urban skyline as artificial and natural light teamed up to illuminate the night.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambushed. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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