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
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Recent Examples of waylay
Neeson stars as Finbar Murphy, a contract killer whose plans to hang up his gun are waylaid by a nasty bit of business with an I.R.A. faction.
—
Jason Bailey, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Linebacker Matt Milano delivered three quarterback hits, waylaid receiver Rashod Bateman on a third-down play to force a field goal and deflected Jackson’s pass on a two-point conversion attempt to tight end Isaiah Likely late in the third quarter.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
As his teammates thrived, Mitchell was waylaid by illness against the Thunder, shooting only 3-16.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
But on his way to his second career, he was waylaid by an unexpected illness.
—Susan Young, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for waylay
Jason Bailey, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Linebacker Matt Milano delivered three quarterback hits, waylaid receiver Rashod Bateman on a third-down play to force a field goal and deflected Jackson’s pass on a two-point conversion attempt to tight end Isaiah Likely late in the third quarter.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
As his teammates thrived, Mitchell was waylaid by illness against the Thunder, shooting only 3-16.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
But on his way to his second career, he was waylaid by an unexpected illness.
—Susan Young, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for waylay
Cite this Entry
“Waylay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waylay. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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