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
Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
In response, local tourism companies clashed, generating blockades and halting services that marooned global travelers in Aguas Calientes, the remote gateway town where buses snake through the Andes toward the 15th-century Inca citadel.
—Mark Johanson, Outside, 25 Sep. 2025
John Deni, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
But others describe the reality of the early weeks, where discussion was completely hampered by Israel's insistence on fully blockading aid into Gaza.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Noun
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has been leading Senate Democrats in their blockade against a short term funding bill unless health care needs or met, was not in the huddle.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
In response, local tourism companies clashed, generating blockades and halting services that marooned global travelers in Aguas Calientes, the remote gateway town where buses snake through the Andes toward the 15th-century Inca citadel.
—Mark Johanson, Outside, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
By the late 1940s, concerns shifted toward the threat posed by the Soviet Union, which stationed large military forces across Eastern Europe, staged a coup in Czechoslovakia and blockaded Berlin.
—John Deni, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
But others describe the reality of the early weeks, where discussion was completely hampered by Israel's insistence on fully blockading aid into Gaza.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockade
Noun
-
Israeli troops are still laying siege to Gaza City, which is the focus of its latest offensive.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Messi hit the post from close range, and Tadeo Allende’s follow-up crashed out off the bar as Miami laid siege to the Chicago goal.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Although Taylor Swift famously bares her soul in her songwriting, she's historically been guarded about her personal life.—
Janey Tracey,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Oct. 2025
-
There’s a bar that’s stocked with bourbon, tequila, and moonshine and a couple of porcelain cheetahs guarding a cabinet full of old records.—
Sid Evans,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If your flower beds were besieged with pests or fungal diseases, the fallen leaf litter and stems from those plants should not be left in the garden.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Ruling an isolated, ruined, and besieged Gaza Strip will not get Hamas closer to this objective—but building up a strong political presence in the West Bank could, and accepting the latest proposal could free Hamas to do this.—
Hussein Ibish,
The Atlantic,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the hands of editor Richard Mettler, some of those fragments serve montages that interlace how the tribes prepare to defend themselves with the way Jalabzeen readies himself to attack.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
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Having attacked the edge of the six-yard box, Rodon has to back-pedal and meet the ball, again, wide of the goal.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Combs also apologized to abuse victims around the world who may have been triggered by the surveillance footage of him assaulting Ventura.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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The bigger issue is the Texas A&M defense, which was assaulted by a Notre Dame offense still figuring it out with a first-year starter at quarterback.—
Matt Hayes,
USA TODAY,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockade. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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