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
Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The vessel is one of around 50 in the flotilla attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade and carry aid into Gaza.
—Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Lev Nachman, Foreign Affairs, 1 Aug. 2025
Diane Miller, Plantation Release the hostages now A front page Sun Sentinel headline, July 24: Israel blockades causing starvation.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Noun
The latest incidents raise fresh concerns about the risks faced by international activists challenging the blockade.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The vessel is one of around 50 in the flotilla attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade and carry aid into Gaza.
—Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
If Beijing quarantines or blockades Taiwan, for example, the island’s leaders would face a narrow political window in which to define the crisis and coordinate a timely response, before messaging from partisan media takes over.
—Lev Nachman, Foreign Affairs, 1 Aug. 2025
Diane Miller, Plantation Release the hostages now A front page Sun Sentinel headline, July 24: Israel blockades causing starvation.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockade
Noun
-
Certainly, the non-participation of Ukrainian gymnasts in international sports competitions causes some damage to the sports composition, which leaves a sickening siege in our gymnasts and coaches, who have done a great job of preparing gymnasts for competitions.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Jensen helped coordinate the Bureau's response to the siege on the Capitol more than four years ago.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The result is an erosion of individual agency and a system that guards access rather than broadens it.—
Anmol Verma,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
This conversation should always be open, hones, and not guarded or ashamed.—
Taylor Lane,
Flow Space,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Through the first-person narration of his protagonist, Nicholas, a teenager suddenly besieged by anxiety, Clune conveys with uncanny vividness what a panic attack feels like.—
Scott Stossel,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Israel tried to take over Gaza City before in this war, besieging it and launching raids in its streets, but tens of thousands of people remained.—
Aya Batrawy,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Charlie was the best of America, and the monster who attacked him was attacking our whole country.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Estonian police said the drone was likely en route to attack targets inside Russia.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The neighbor, who denied any political motivations in the attack, pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of Congress was sentenced to eight months behind bars.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
-
In April, 2021, two Chinese women were assaulted outside the town’s only Asian grocery store.—
Beth Lew-Williams,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockade. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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