as in blocked
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1
as in guarded
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
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2
as in besieged
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
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Recent Examples of blockaded
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
But Senate leadership had to overcome a temporary setback as senators blockaded the legislation as leverage for their own priorities.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
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
To test if this really was a White House operation, Grace and I followed one of the trucks out of the golf course, past the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, to a path that normally leads to the White House but was blockaded.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
Israel has blockaded the water around Gaza, preventing boats and ships from delivering humanitarian aid.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025
As the attack unfolded, congregants blockaded themselves inside the synagogue, keeping Al-Shamie outside.
—Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
Saudi Arabia, under his de-facto leadership, embarked on a military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, temporarily kidnapped the Prime Minister of Lebanon, and blockaded Qatar.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
But Senate leadership had to overcome a temporary setback as senators blockaded the legislation as leverage for their own priorities.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
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
To test if this really was a White House operation, Grace and I followed one of the trucks out of the golf course, past the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, to a path that normally leads to the White House but was blockaded.
—Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025
Israel has blockaded the water around Gaza, preventing boats and ships from delivering humanitarian aid.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025
As the attack unfolded, congregants blockaded themselves inside the synagogue, keeping Al-Shamie outside.
—Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockaded
Verb
-
Both public parks and private allotments served as compensation for a long process of enclosing public commons to make the urban and rural landscapes of today, in which territories are divided, fenced, and often guarded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
-
He’s guarded some of the best players in the league.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
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
Adjective
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Encounter barricaded streets in your neighborhood for the first time, but not for the last.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Previously, they were limited to such situations as barricaded suspects or explosives.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Until Friday, the only television advertising on Paxton’s behalf in Texas, according to the ad-tracking service AdImpact, was a spot that attacked Hunt, a two-term House member from the Houston area.—
Thomas Beaumont,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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In that non-fatal case, Homeland Security claims three undocumented men attacked a federal agent with a snow shovel and a broom, and that fearing for his life, the agent shot one of the men in the leg.—
Esme Murphy,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But the table is so congested that putting any kind of winning run together could make a real difference while the teams above them are distracted by European commitments.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
At Monday’s meeting, Blowers noted the benefits of the devices, as well as their potential safety issues — like individuals operating the equipment in an unsafe manner, riding too close to pedestrians or in congested areas on sidewalks and disregarding traffic control devices.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
StubHub should have disclosed the obstructed view upfront.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Depending on your vantage point, the band was often semi-obstructed or blocked from view.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blockaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockaded. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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