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
Stephane Mahe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Its call for a day of blockades, strikes, boycotts, demonstrations and other acts of protest came as Bayrou was preparing plans to massively slash public spending by $51 billion to rein in France's growing deficit and trillions in debts.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Nationwide demonstrations and highway blockades are set for Wednesday, followed by a broader union led strike on September 18.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
By removing the usual corporate blockades, employees could test and build on their ideas quickly.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
According to Reuters, various regional authorities say the mobile internet blockades are intended to disrupt Ukrainian drone strikes.
—PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2025
Beijing's forces have responded to Philippine challenges with blockades, ramming maneuvers, and water cannon, raising fears that a miscalculation could draw the United States into a conflict with its military rival.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
In Syria, the Assad regime had this ‘surrender or starve’ set of blockades.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Security forces deployed across the country to try to remove any blockades as fast as possible, officials said, meaning that France was, for now, not blocked.
—Stephane Mahe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Its call for a day of blockades, strikes, boycotts, demonstrations and other acts of protest came as Bayrou was preparing plans to massively slash public spending by $51 billion to rein in France's growing deficit and trillions in debts.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Nationwide demonstrations and highway blockades are set for Wednesday, followed by a broader union led strike on September 18.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
By removing the usual corporate blockades, employees could test and build on their ideas quickly.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
According to Reuters, various regional authorities say the mobile internet blockades are intended to disrupt Ukrainian drone strikes.
—PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2025
Beijing's forces have responded to Philippine challenges with blockades, ramming maneuvers, and water cannon, raising fears that a miscalculation could draw the United States into a conflict with its military rival.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
In Syria, the Assad regime had this ‘surrender or starve’ set of blockades.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
-
Climb the fortress trail to San Giovanni—a crumbling hilltop citadel that once guarded the city from Ottoman sieges—where the vistas stretch like a myth across fjord-like waters.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
So in the worst sieges in Syria, people could smuggle themselves in and out.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The result is an erosion of individual agency and a system that guards access rather than broadens it.—
Anmol Verma,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Other players of note include offensive/defensive tackle Stacy Peck, running back Joe Pullio, guards Evan Murphy and Braden Delisle, and safety Parker Delong.—
Erik Anderson,
Boston Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even as Russia attacks power plants, grids, and neighborhoods, Ukraine’s energy system has endured and adapted, becoming a decentralized network that keeps homes lit, factories running, and morale intact.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Eze attacks the space vertically — rather than diagonally behind the centre-backs — to be in Pedro Porro’s blindside as Munoz is carrying the ball forward.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blockades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockades. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share