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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Kevin Collier, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
London — The world, hungry for oil, got a modest reprieve earlier this month when Saudi Arabia began diverting millions of barrels of crude —ordinarily destined for ships transiting the blockaded Strait of Hormuz — to its Red Sea port of Yanbu.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded Central to the negotiations is Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point that, if left blockaded, could continue driving oil prices higher and further destabilizing global energy markets.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
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
But, in response, Iran has attacked Israel and its Gulf neighbors and blockaded the vital Strait of Hormuz trade route, delivering a global economic shock that has sent energy prices surging and threatened food shortages for billions.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
Wind and solar cannot be embargoed, blockaded, or shut off by a foreign power.
—David Frykman, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
And, as the 2022 Canadian convoy protest that blockaded the bridge demonstrated, a single corridor for commercial traffic is vulnerable.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Ministers remain haunted by events in September 2000 when former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government, with a majority as large as Starmer’s now, was rocked as farmers and hauliers blockaded refineries and fuel depots amid fury over taxes levied on petrol and diesel.
—Ian King, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2026
The Caribbean nation has experienced severe fuel shortages, upending daily life on the island, after the US blockaded Venezuelan oil shipments.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Australia, which relies directly or indirectly on the blockaded Strait of Hormuz for much of its energy imports, has halved fuel taxes and encouraged the use of public transportation amid soaring gas prices.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
London — The world, hungry for oil, got a modest reprieve earlier this month when Saudi Arabia began diverting millions of barrels of crude —ordinarily destined for ships transiting the blockaded Strait of Hormuz — to its Red Sea port of Yanbu.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
Iran has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz for the vast majority of vessels for more than six weeks — a previously unthinkable scenario for a waterway that ordinarily carries about a fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies and a third of the world’s urea fertilizer exports.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded Central to the negotiations is Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point that, if left blockaded, could continue driving oil prices higher and further destabilizing global energy markets.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
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
But, in response, Iran has attacked Israel and its Gulf neighbors and blockaded the vital Strait of Hormuz trade route, delivering a global economic shock that has sent energy prices surging and threatened food shortages for billions.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
Wind and solar cannot be embargoed, blockaded, or shut off by a foreign power.
—David Frykman, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
And, as the 2022 Canadian convoy protest that blockaded the bridge demonstrated, a single corridor for commercial traffic is vulnerable.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Ministers remain haunted by events in September 2000 when former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government, with a majority as large as Starmer’s now, was rocked as farmers and hauliers blockaded refineries and fuel depots amid fury over taxes levied on petrol and diesel.
—Ian King, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2026
The Caribbean nation has experienced severe fuel shortages, upending daily life on the island, after the US blockaded Venezuelan oil shipments.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockaded
Verb
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How Edwards and Murray are guarded could evolve over the course of the series.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
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Witcher said that the area where the rip current claimed the lives of two adults was not being guarded with lifeguards.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a similar vein, the Business section featured an article on our inequitable national tax structure, which enables the wealthy to grow their wealth while most people, besieged by income taxes and rising property taxes, struggle.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
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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
Adjective
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Deputies arrested Alexander Barrios Ozorio Walfre at 4522 Sunnyside Drive after reports of a barricaded person who threatened a neighbor with a gun, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
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Her son remained barricaded inside the home for several hours before he was taken into custody.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Police on Friday closed Kensington Gardens, a central London park visited by thousands of tourists and local residents every day, after a group that Israel has linked to Iran posted a video claiming Israel’s nearby London embassy was going to be attacked with drones carrying dangerous substances.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
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The rabbi of Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London, which was attacked by arsonists over the weekend, took to social media on Sunday to show members of his congregation gathering in his home to pray.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Parking researcher Donald Shoup found that about 30% of cars in congested areas near underpriced parking are circling for a space, burning time and fuel while blocking traffic.—
Haylee Rea,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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Extending the boulevard toward West Summit Avenue would give residents a new way to travel, which could lessen traffic in the congested area where I-77 connects with I-277, Woliansky said.—
Desiree Mathurin
April 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
Adjective
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San Franciscans who think Muni buses are always packed, or prone to crawl along choked streets, may find their views validated in a new slide presentation released by the Municipal Transportation Agency.—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blockaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockaded. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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