Thesaurus results for WAYLAY

waylay

verb

ˈwā-ˌlā

Definition of waylay

as in to ambush

to lie in wait for and attack by surprise a lonely stretch of highway along which unsuspecting tourists are often waylaid by gangs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 waylay But that undertaking, primarily fueled by private dollars, has been waylaid due to getting a needed booster flight-qualified. — Leonard David, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026 What had been perhaps Buxton’s finest overall season has been waylaid by a hip impingement that’s twice landed him on the IL and wrecked his production even when on the field since the start of July. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for waylay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waylay

Verb

Videos from that day showed militants gunning down fleeing revelers, shooting the wounded at point-blank range and ambushing those seeking refuge in bomb shelters.

— Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Shot in the Canary Islands, Doom Scroll watches as a family’s Passover Seder is ambushed by intruders hungry for revenge, viral fame and power.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of ambush

Verb

The recent success of a late-stage mRNA cancer vaccine, showing the drug stopped the return of melanoma, has boosted hopes that the approach can be successfully harnessed to attack other cancers.

— Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
In Ohio, Husted has been repeatedly attacked for his role in attracting data centers to Ohio as lieutenant governor.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of attack

Browse Nearby Words

waylaid

waylay

waylaying

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Waylay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waylay. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of waylay

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes