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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of ambushed
The violence then shifted to Brookhaven, where Mathews was ambushed and shot several times outside a business center.
—
Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Some residents say frustrations over the guard eased after two members of the West Virginia contingent were ambushed just blocks from the White House, killing Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and severely injuring her colleague.
—Gary Fields, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
The Twins ambushed Crochet with four runs in the first inning, then knocked out Boston's ace lefty with a seven-run second.
—CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
In 2023, thirteen members and associates of Midtown were charged in the killing of 24-year-old Trevon Richardson, a Hard Body Gang associate, who was ambushed and killed by six gunmen near the Lido Square Apartments in Pittsburg, authorities said.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
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
Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Some residents say frustrations over the guard eased after two members of the West Virginia contingent were ambushed just blocks from the White House, killing Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and severely injuring her colleague.
—Gary Fields, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
The Twins ambushed Crochet with four runs in the first inning, then knocked out Boston's ace lefty with a seven-run second.
—CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
In 2023, thirteen members and associates of Midtown were charged in the killing of 24-year-old Trevon Richardson, a Hard Body Gang associate, who was ambushed and killed by six gunmen near the Lido Square Apartments in Pittsburg, authorities said.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ambushed
Verb
-
When the newlyweds arrive home, they are attacked by Naz and his henchman (played by Matt Willig).—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
27 Apr. 2026
-
On Friday, April 24, cattle breeder Santiago Barrero San Román was attacked by the bull at the San Marcos Festival in the remote southern Spanish town of Beas de Segura, according to El País, ABC and La Razón.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The English wrestler gave Lee a hug in the middle of the ring, but assaulted her.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Karzoun was assaulted near a shopping area on North Eagleville Road in the early morning hours after the large party was broken up at Carriage House by Connecticut State Police and the UConn Police Department.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Padres have gotten promising results from two reclamation projects in Walker Buehler and Germán Márquez, veterans who used to lead pitching staffs before Tommy John surgery waylaid them the past couple seasons.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Now Picard is zipping around the cosmos again, The Lord of the Rings is waylaid with prequels and spin-offs, and somehow, Palpatine returned.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The research team, comprising Tae Yeon Kim, a postdoctoral fellow, and Lane Martin, a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Rice University, was surprised by the large increase in magnetization.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Love Project’s success even surprised a school superintendent who came to hear Arleen give a talk.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 1960, the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 reconnaissance plane and captured its pilot, Francis Gary Powers.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
In 2024, the pygmy hippo Moo Deng in Thailand captured hearts around the world with her water splashing, knee-biting antics spreading like wildfire on TikTok and other platforms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ambushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ambushed. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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