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
On Thursday, though, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf – who is leading negotiations for Tehran and has emerged as the key voice of the Iranian government – ridiculed the notion of blockading Iran, pointing to the country’s extensive land and maritime borders.
—
Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
The al-Qaida linked JNIM group — Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin — has expanded in recent years, seizing vast swaths of territory and recently blockading off Bamako from fuel shipments.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
The blockading country's navy must essentially pull over ships, like a traffic cop at sea.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
Since the Ayatollah was killed, Iran has gained leverage over the United States and Israel by blockading the Strait of Hormuz and torpedoing the global economy.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Trump is blockading Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s not through blockading a drop of oil from reaching an island through bombing the economic infrastructure of the island, and through maximalist foreign policy pressures threatening military intervention.
—NBC news, 12 Apr. 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
Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
The al-Qaida linked JNIM group — Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin — has expanded in recent years, seizing vast swaths of territory and recently blockading off Bamako from fuel shipments.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
The blockading country's navy must essentially pull over ships, like a traffic cop at sea.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
Since the Ayatollah was killed, Iran has gained leverage over the United States and Israel by blockading the Strait of Hormuz and torpedoing the global economy.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Trump is blockading Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s not through blockading a drop of oil from reaching an island through bombing the economic infrastructure of the island, and through maximalist foreign policy pressures threatening military intervention.
—NBC news, 12 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockading
Verb
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Even those were somewhat unlocked by Minnesota’s injuries; Johnson no longer had Edwards guarding him by Games 5 and 6, enabling Denver to attack a mismatch.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
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Bartholomew was shot and killed inside Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital Saturday morning while guarding someone in custody.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 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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Fitz also has some stiff competition in the attacking midfield.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
7 May 2026
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Trump and his allies are attacking democracy itself, from the rights to protest and exist freely to the rights to fair jobs and livable wages.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blockading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockading. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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