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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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ambush
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
Also injured in the attack was Moïse's widow, Martine Moïse, who was shot during the ambush.
—Tania Francois, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
Talk shows continued to invite her, often in order to ambush her.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Noun
The study suggests that having eight eyes may improve depth perception during stationary hunting, a strategy suited to an ambush predator waiting motionless beneath cover.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
Also injured in the attack was Moïse's widow, Martine Moïse, who was shot during the ambush.
—Tania Francois, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Lucca van der Woude approached Plaintiff from behind to ambush and digitally penetrate him.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
Talk shows continued to invite her, often in order to ambush her.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ambush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambush
Noun
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Ukraine has launched drone attacks at Russia, although on a smaller scale.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
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The Navy plans to up its production rate to around 2 attack submarines and 1 nuclear submarine a year.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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What the trap revealed, aside from being the first of its kind to be discovered in picturesque surroundings, was a terrible ordeal for whale and human alike.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
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Inspectors found a dead rodent on an at-home sticky trap and noted that the back area smelled of rodent urine.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Authorities say that surveillance footage showed Estimphil getting slammed to the ground and assaulted by the three men charged in the indictment.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
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Workers and passengers on the Chicago Transit Authority have been assaulted at rates at least double those of comparable public transit systems around the country, according to a Tribune analysis of federal data.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Then the curse of the fathers found me — slow at first, like a rumor rolling over the veld, then sudden, like a snare snapping shut on bone.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
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Also called devil's snare, the plant's seeds, roots, stems, and leaves are all dangerous if ingested.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
10 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
Noun
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Smith, who turned 55 this past Thursday and received a surprise mariachi serenade from his staff midweek, gave his man-of-the-match nod not to a goal scorer, but to captain Ashley Westwood.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
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So, to come in over 50% in a nine-way race with a couple of competitors, or as strong as a couple of them were, was really a surprise to us.—
March 22,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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SkyEye was up over Falmouth, Massachusetts Tuesday, to capture the moment when a treasured yellow lab named Tessie was rescued from a deep backyard sinkhole.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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When not in the newsroom, Munis is often out on the streets with his camera, capturing the perfect portrait or settling in to watch a thought-provoking film.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambush. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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