blockade

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 beleaguerment, investment, leaguer, siege Related Words counterblockade; containment, encirclement, encompassment; confinement, insulation, isolation, quarantine, seclusion, segregation, sequestration; incarceration, internment

1 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 bar, barricade, close, block (off), guard, wall (off)Related Words curtain (off), screen (off); dike, fence, gate, hedge; bolt, lock; obstructNear Antonyms reopen, unblock, unboltAntonyms open, unbar

2 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 beleaguer, besiege, invest, leaguer [archaic]Related Words barricade, block, cut off, dam, encircle; assail, assault, attack, beset; confine, insulate, isolate, quarantineNear Antonyms emancipate, free, liberate, release, rescue