| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | lie in wait; attack |
| Synonyms: | ambuscade, assail, assault, box in, bushwhack, decoy, dry gulch, ensnare, entrap, hem in, hide, hook*, jap, jump, lay for, lurk, net, set trap, surprise, surround, trap, wait, waylay |
| Main Entry: | defeat |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | conquer in military manner |
| Synonyms: | ambush, annihilate, bar, bear down, beat, best, block, butcher, crush, decimate, demolish, discomfit, drown, entrap, finish off, halt, hinder, impede, lick, mow down, obliterate, obstruct, outflank, outmaneuver, overpower, overrun, overthrow, overwhelm, parry, prevail over, quell, reduce, repel, repress, repulse, roll back, rout, route, sack, scatter, shipwreck, sink, slaughter, smash, subdue, subjugate, suppress, surmount, swamp, torpedo, trample, trash, upset, vanquish, whip, wipe out |
| Notes: | decimate means to kill or destroy in large numbers; defeat means to win a victory over or to beat |
| Antonyms: | give up, lose, surrender |
| Main Entry: | intercept |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | head off; interrupt |
| Synonyms: | ambush, appropriate, arrest, block, catch, check, curb, cut in, cut off, deflect, head off at pass, hijack, hinder, interlope, interpose, make off with, obstruct, prevent, seize, shortstop, stop, take, take away |
| Antonyms: | abet, forward, help |
| Main Entry: | pounce |
| Part of Speech: | noun, verb |
| Definition: | leap at; take by surprise |
| Synonyms: | ambush, attack, bound, dart, dash, dive, drop, fall upon, jump, snatch, spring, strike, surge, swoop, take unawares |
| Main Entry: | seize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | abduct; take by force |
| Synonyms: | ambush, annex, apprehend, appropriate, arrest, arrogate, bag, bust, capture, carry off, catch, claw, clutch, commandeer, confiscate, conquer, exact, force, gain, get, grab, grasp, hijack, hook, impound, incorporate, kidnap, lift, nab, nail, occupy, overcome, overpower, overrun, overwhelm, pick up, pounce, secure, snag, snare, spirit away, subdue, take, take by storm, take captive, take over, take possession of, throttle, trap, usurp, wrench |
| Antonyms: | free, liberate, release |
| Main Entry: | sneak |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | move stealthily |
| Synonyms: | ambush, case, cheat, cower, crawl, creep, deceive, delude, evade, glide, gumshoe, hide, lurk, mooch, move secretly, ooze, pad, pass, prowl, pussyfoot, secrete, shirk, sidle, skulk, slide, slink, slip, slither, sly, smuggle, snake, snook, spirit, steal, worm |
| Main Entry: | stalk |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | follow, creep up on |
| Synonyms: | ambush, approach, chase, drive, flush out, haunt, hunt, pace, pursue, shadow, striddle, stride, tail, track, trail, walk up to |
| Main Entry: | surprise |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | sneak up on; catch |
| Synonyms: | ambush, burst in on, bushwhack, capture, catch in the act, catch off-balance, catch off-guard, catch red-handed, catch unawares, come down on, discover, drop in on, grab, grasp, lay for, lie in wait, nab, seize, spring on, startle, take, take by surprise, waylay |
| Antonyms: | expect |
| Main Entry: | trap |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | catch, snare; trick |
| Synonyms: | ambuscade, ambush, beguile, box in, circumvent, collar, corner*, corral*, deceive, decoy, dupe, enmesh, ensnare, entangle, entrap, fool, grab, hook, inveigle, land*, mousetrap, nab, nail, net, overtake, rope in, seduce, snag, suck in, surprise, take, tangle, trammel, trip up |
| Antonyms: | let go, release |