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
Derek James, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Fewer blockades for deals means more business for Goldman, which is the top global M & A advisor by market share.
—Jeff Marks,morgan Chittum, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2025
In recent weeks, JNIM has effectively blockaded Bamako, targeting critical fuel convoys and supply lines.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Noun
Those concerns are echoed by the Minneapolis Fire Department, which says the pop-up nature of the blockades makes emergency response especially difficult.
—Derek James, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Fewer blockades for deals means more business for Goldman, which is the top global M & A advisor by market share.
—Jeff Marks,morgan Chittum, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
At first, Israel blockaded Gaza entirely, against the United States’ wishes.
—Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2025
In recent weeks, JNIM has effectively blockaded Bamako, targeting critical fuel convoys and supply lines.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockade
Noun
-
Last year, the group said that people in Darfur's major city of el-Fasher, overrun by the paramilitary forces after an 18-month siege, were enduring famine.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Alexseyev has had significant involvement in the war in Ukraine, serving as one of Russia’s negotiators in the secret talks with a member of the Ukrainian parliament to end Russia’s 2022 siege of the strategic city of Mariupol, Ukraine.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The other two are occupied by undrafted rookie guards Curtis Jones and Tamar Bates.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Rookie guards Max Shulga and John Tonje, the latter acquired from Utah in the Boucher trade, are Boston’s other two-way players.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Adams administration was besieged with corruption at every level—the Blackness of the perpetrators was of no solace.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Don Lemon also enjoyed a standing ovation and was besieged by people all night to express their gratitude and support after he was arrested and charged for an anti-ICE protest just two days before.—
Rob LeDonne,
Rolling Stone,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mobs attacked television vans and set cars ablaze as overrun hospitals struggled to cope with scores of injured people.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The complication is not well understood but appears to be the result of the virus prompting the immune system to attack a certain protein that some brain cells produce.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There are at least two amphibious ready groups — US Navy task forces for assaulting the shore from the sea.—
Jamie Tarabay,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Aljorna and Sosa-Celis denied assaulting the officer.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockade. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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