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
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 blockade
Kate Perez, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Still, some have called for a less dangerous option, namely a naval blockade of Iran’s oil exports meant to pressure the regime to open the strait.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2026
Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Wind and solar cannot be embargoed, blockaded, or shut off by a foreign power.
—David Frykman, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Noun
Those issues are exacerbated by what critics describe as an effective oil blockade in recent months.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Still, some have called for a less dangerous option, namely a naval blockade of Iran’s oil exports meant to pressure the regime to open the strait.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
Three of the four countries that blockaded Qatar—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain—have also been the target of Iranian drones and missiles.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Wind and solar cannot be embargoed, blockaded, or shut off by a foreign power.
—David Frykman, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockade
Noun
-
As the siege escalates, loyalties are tested and selfless sacrifices are made, leading to a desperate fight for survival where not everyone will emerge alive.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
-
He was killed during the French siege of Maastricht in the Franco-Dutch War on June 25, 1673, after being struck in the throat by a musket ball.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Adebayo found a rhythm in the second half, scoring 15 points in the final two quarters while being guarded by reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
At the turn of the twentieth century, perfumery was widely regarded as a European inheritance—guarded by Paris and Grasse, shaped by centuries of ritual and refinement.—
Sudhir Gupta,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Early on, the Biden team had been besieged with desperate pleas to ship more of the then scarce vaccine.—
David Blumenthal,
STAT,
24 Mar. 2026
-
When news circulated about the gathering, Temple Emanu-El was besieged with inquiries from the local media.—
Joshua M. Davidson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities are working to identify the owner of a dog that entered a Midlothian home and attacked a 1‑year‑old child and an adult, leaving them bloodied and the child hospitalized with severe injuries.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Banchero’s ball The Magic forward attacked downhill early and often to notch 10 points in the opening quarter and a team-high 18 in the first half.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The sole occupant of the home was assaulted and tied up before the suspect stole several items from the home, including a vehicle, then used that vehicle to flee the scene, according to LeLacheur.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Department of Homeland Security said Saturday that two people were arrested for assaulting federal law enforcement, Reuters reported.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockade. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
