as in sieges
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 guards
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 besieges
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 blockades
Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Markets could swing between risk-on relief — if regime collapse removes the threat of oil blockades or nuclear escalation — and risk-off persistence if conflict drags on and supply disruptions intensify, according to Ben Emons of FedWatch Advisors.
—Garrett Downs,greg Iacurci,azhar Sukri,spriha Srivastava,emma Graham,lee Ying Shan,anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
Authorities have said that in addition to Sunday’s narco-blockades, CJNG was responsible for similar incidents that shut down Tijuana on a Friday night in August 2022 in apparent retaliation for the arrests of several cartel figures.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Cuba produces only 40% of its fuel needs and is highly vulnerable to external blockades.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
Gangs set up fiery blockades on the streets and engaged in shootouts with the military.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
The death of a major cartel boss in Mexico has unleashed a violent backlash in which members of the criminal group have paralyzed some cities through blockades and attacks on property and security forces.
—Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
In the aftermath, Mexican officials have tried to regain control in parts of the country after armed groups began public displays of violence, including shootouts and blockades of roadways in several states.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
But although the port itself was operating normally on Monday, blockades and fires outside the port continued to interrupt freight movement.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Road blockades, traffic slowdowns and other protests were widespread – from the southern port city of Marseille to Lille and Caen in the north, and from Nantes and Rennes in the west to Grenoble and Lyon in the southeast.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
The blockades of the past are merely a prelude to those to come.
—Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Markets could swing between risk-on relief — if regime collapse removes the threat of oil blockades or nuclear escalation — and risk-off persistence if conflict drags on and supply disruptions intensify, according to Ben Emons of FedWatch Advisors.
—Garrett Downs,greg Iacurci,azhar Sukri,spriha Srivastava,emma Graham,lee Ying Shan,anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
Authorities have said that in addition to Sunday’s narco-blockades, CJNG was responsible for similar incidents that shut down Tijuana on a Friday night in August 2022 in apparent retaliation for the arrests of several cartel figures.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Cuba produces only 40% of its fuel needs and is highly vulnerable to external blockades.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
Gangs set up fiery blockades on the streets and engaged in shootouts with the military.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
The death of a major cartel boss in Mexico has unleashed a violent backlash in which members of the criminal group have paralyzed some cities through blockades and attacks on property and security forces.
—Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
In the aftermath, Mexican officials have tried to regain control in parts of the country after armed groups began public displays of violence, including shootouts and blockades of roadways in several states.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
But although the port itself was operating normally on Monday, blockades and fires outside the port continued to interrupt freight movement.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
His death sparked civil unrest in Puerto Vallarta and more than a dozen Mexican states, including Quintana Roo, with cars set on fire and blockades obstructing highways.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Road blockades, traffic slowdowns and other protests were widespread – from the southern port city of Marseille to Lille and Caen in the north, and from Nantes and Rennes in the west to Grenoble and Lyon in the southeast.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockades
Noun
-
However, Birru said the sieges were not fully broken.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Now requests are arriving steadily from New York, Maine, and Milan, other locales bracing for their own sieges.—
Kathryn Savage,
Artforum,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Swain runs the offense, guards every position and is the one player who cannot afford to have a bad night at the office, lest the Horns will get blown out in most instances.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Miami guards Gal Raviv and Amarachi Kimpson each scored 20.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Patients with myositis, an immune disease that attacks muscle, have shown significant improvements in strength.—
Jason Liebowitz,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The Ghostface killer attacks them, leaving two dead, including Lucas, impaled on a sharp beer tap handle.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blockades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockades. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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