as in siege
the cutting off of an area by military means to stop the flow of people or supplies
it was the blockade of all the enemy's major ports that finally won the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to guard
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point
the militant protestors blockaded the whole area around city hall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to besiege
to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication
blockaded the city until it surrendered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blockade
Diaa Ostaz, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2025
The chain is formed by three island blockades seeking to restrict Russian and Chinese military access to the Pacific Ocean with America's allied and friendly territories.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Edward Fishman, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2025
Several of them were convicted of blockading a reproductive health clinic and intimidating staff and patients.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Noun
Aid organizations raise alarm International aid organizations are also raising alarm over the humanitarian toll of the blockade.
—Diaa Ostaz, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2025
The chain is formed by three island blockades seeking to restrict Russian and Chinese military access to the Pacific Ocean with America's allied and friendly territories.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
For most of history, imposing serious economic pressure required the deployment of military forces: ships blockading ports, armies laying siege to cities.
—Edward Fishman, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2025
Several of them were convicted of blockading a reproductive health clinic and intimidating staff and patients.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockade
Noun
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More than 1,500 people were charged with crimes connected to the siege on the Capitol.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2025
-
Those foods have become almost completely unavailable as Israel’s siege approaches its third month.—
Jeremy Diamond and Abeer Salman,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And when the focus shifts from guarding what’s been built to cultivating what’s possible next.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
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Reese, who led LSU to the 2023 national championship, later threw a three-quarter-court pass to guard Rachel Banham for an easy layup.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Verb
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When Colorado was besieged by injuries or poor goaltending earlier this season, there were nights when a B or B-minus performance was going to be a loss, even against teams that aren’t very good.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2025
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And while politicians know that there are costs to besieging an independent central bank – financial markets may react negatively or inflation may flare up – short-term control of a powerful policy tool can prove irresistible.—
Ana Carolina Garriga,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Particularly his ability to do things at such high speed and to help begin attacking moves in his own half.—
Philipp Lahm,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Police are searching for three suspects who were caught on video repeatedly attacking a 61-year-old trans woman outside of her convenience store in Los Angeles’ Westlake neighborhood.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The suit alleges that Robinson assaulted one woman at least 23 times from May 2014 to February 2020, often in places in his home without security cameras.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
8 May 2025
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Combs assaulted women, by among other things, striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects at, and kicking them.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockade. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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