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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blockades
Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
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
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
Currently, the Public Works Department uses vehicles as temporary traffic blockades during those events.
—Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
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
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
-
Dilley faces mounting scrutiny from immigration lawyers and advocates, who say children have struggled emotionally and physically in an environment where lights remain on around the clock and guards patrol.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Sophomore guards Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell, both sophomores, emerged as reliable college rotation players in 2025-26.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mills attacks Platner's past comments This month, the governor returned to Platner's controversial social media posts, triggering an exchange of advertising that has largely overshadowed the Democrats' arguments to defeat Collins.—
Steve Mistler,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Oil tanker traffic through the strait has plunged as Iran attacks commercial ships in the Persian Gulf.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blockades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockades. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
