1
as in guarding
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in besieging
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 blockading
With Iran essentially blockading the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global oil prices, there are concerns that if the Houthis start attacking ships in the Red Sea again global shipping will be even more disrupted.
—
Npr Staff, NPR, 29 Mar. 2026
Wasn’t Israel already blockading Gaza?
—Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Administration officials refused to rule out occupying or blockading Iran's Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
—George Petras, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Tehran has been effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of global oil supply flows, since the start of US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Experts say blockading Iran’s oil exports is an option that would open the strait faster.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Conservatives tried and failed to convince Thune to pursue a talking filibuster, an old-school way of blockading legislation that might eventually allow the SAVE America Act to pass at 50 votes.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
But our ability to strangle off and keep the chokehold on the Venezuelan regime keeps that fleet blockading Venezuela.
—CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
Witnesses report that other vehicles besides Good's were blockading unmarked immigration agent vehicles with their emergency LED lights activated.
—Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 9 Jan. 2026
Npr Staff, NPR, 29 Mar. 2026
Wasn’t Israel already blockading Gaza?
—Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Administration officials refused to rule out occupying or blockading Iran's Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
—George Petras, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Tehran has been effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of global oil supply flows, since the start of US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Experts say blockading Iran’s oil exports is an option that would open the strait faster.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Conservatives tried and failed to convince Thune to pursue a talking filibuster, an old-school way of blockading legislation that might eventually allow the SAVE America Act to pass at 50 votes.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
But our ability to strangle off and keep the chokehold on the Venezuelan regime keeps that fleet blockading Venezuela.
—CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
Witnesses report that other vehicles besides Good's were blockading unmarked immigration agent vehicles with their emergency LED lights activated.
—Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockading
Verb
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No one else was shot or killed, including members of the presidential security detail who were supposed to be guarding the family.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
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Pope sounded ready to go, even anticipating taking on the challenge of guarding Purdue’s star guard Braden Smith, who broke the NCAA Division I all-time assist record on Friday against Queens.—
Christian Babcock,
Mercury News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Israel tried to take over Gaza City before in this war, besieging it and launching raids in its streets, but tens of thousands of people remained.—
Aya Batrawy,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
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And while politicians know that there are costs to besieging an independent central bank – financial markets may react negatively or inflation may flare up – short-term control of a powerful policy tool can prove irresistible.—
Ana Carolina Garriga,
The Conversation,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There are outside groups aligned with Democrats, yet much of their spending has focused on attacking Collins, rather than supporting a Democratic primary candidate.—
Steve Mistler,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
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Regardless, there’s no excuse — even in hard knocks politics — for attacking someone because of his disability.—
George Skelton,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blockading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockading. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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