block 1 of 2

1
2
3
as in head
slang the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth threatened to knock the block off the jerk next door if he didn't can the noise

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in side
a group of people acting together within a larger group a more conservative block within the political party

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

block

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to fill
to close up so that no empty spaces remain block up the opening in the wall where a window once was

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to intercept
to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course a thug suddenly stepped out of a doorway and blocked his escape down the alley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb block contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of block are hinder, impede, and obstruct. While all these words mean "to interfere with the activity or progress of," block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

a landslide blocked the road

When might hinder be a better fit than block?

While the synonyms hinder and block are close in meaning, hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

rain hindered the climb

In what contexts can impede take the place of block?

In some situations, the words impede and block are roughly equivalent. However, impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

tight clothing that impedes movement

When would obstruct be a good substitute for block?

The meanings of obstruct and block largely overlap; however, obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.

the view was obstructed by billboards

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 block
Noun
While exact estimates vary by source, most cite the population as under 150, and its original five-by-two block grid layout, created by its namesake, George Washington, remains today. Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025 Book Hotel Blocks Whenever possible, book hotel blocks. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
After its passage, Cruz expects to introduce more laws to support his framework, likely paving the way for similar future moratoriums to be granted to block state laws. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025 Requiring sobriety would block some people from entering and staying in the program. Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for block
Noun
  • Mechanical controls already seen on the F80 have been carried over, including the Engine Start button, while the digital cluster allows the rapid reconfiguration of the electric driving modes via the eManettino.
    Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The difficulty in getting rid of players other than those whose contracts expired this summer (Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez and Jesus Vallejo) was a significant obstacle.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • To overcome this obstacle, the MIT team employed lithium-6 atoms, a rare isotope whose resonance frequency shifts depending on temperature.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Cherry breaks a Champagne flute on her own head and runs out of the gallery, screaming that Laura attacked her.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Fowler's character, Randall, gets involved in the group of true crime enthusiasts when he's promoted to the position of head doorman at the Arconia after Lester's death.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Even rarer these days is a repeater that does not show its gongs and hammers on the dial side.
    Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In the sixteenth century, the nomadic, reindeer-herding Sámi people of what’s now northern Sweden and Finland and the Shawnee of the Ohio Valley in North America, who lived in farming villages organized as a confederacy, didn’t necessarily have much in common.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Americans are divided on that topic, with 55% saying historical figures that supported the confederacy and racial segregation should not be memorialized in a June 2024 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At night, the fire crackled while insects filled the air and a distant lion let out a low, steady rumble.
    Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Companies are increasingly stepping into roles traditionally held by colleges, universities, and trade schools, creating their own certification programs to address skill gaps that formal education hasn't filled.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, North was found guilty of destroying official documents, accepting a home security system as a gift and obstructing Congress in 1989.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
  • With the sandboxing proposal, companies could identify regulations that are obstructing their efforts, and ask for a waiver.
    Emily Wilkins, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Leavitt was intercepted on the next drive to put an exclamation point on a big upset win for the Bulldogs.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Tagovailoa’s third turnover occurred on Miami’s first drive of the second half when a short pass over the middle of the field was intercepted by Colts defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, who dropped back into coverage on Miami’s offense while a three Colts rushers came after Tagovailoa.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/block. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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