siege

noun

ˈsēj How to pronounce siege (audio)
Definition of siegenext
1
as in attack
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder a devastating siege of typhoid fever hit the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blockade
the cutting off of an area by military means to stop the flow of people or supplies after a siege of six weeks, the city of Vicksburg surrendered to General Grant and his Union forces

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 siege Cortés won Mexico for Spain by capturing Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec empire, and Emperor Cuauhtémoc, after a three-month siege. — USA Today, 28 July 2026 Refresh for updates…Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is just laying siege and holding the box office fort at the domestic box office, but worldwide. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 July 2026 We Baltimoreans treasure the role the 1814 battle played in repelling the mighty British forces, which were forced to abandon their siege of Fort McHenry. — Michel A. Ibrahim, Baltimore Sun, 25 July 2026 The Houthis said they got involved in the war to retaliate against Saudi Arabia for its siege on Yemen and assaults on the capital's international airport. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for siege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for siege
  1. attack
  2. blockade
  3. bout
  4. seizure
  5. case
  6. spell
Noun
  • In recent years and as online culture changed, Hilton toned down his public attacks and appeared to embrace fatherhood and adopt a kinder public persona, even integrating more family-friendly content on his site.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • On April 1, Shawnda Jackson, the girl's grandmother, said there had been six adult relatives at the house, where the girl lived with 11 relatives, when the attack happened.
    — Rafael Escalera Montoto, Arkansas Online, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Iran has denied any current negotiations with the US, and a military adviser to the supreme leader has threatened American ships taking part in a blockade of Iranian ports.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Against this backdrop, the Houthi announcement of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia amounted to the most serious escalation of Saudi-Houthi tensions since a tenuous ceasefire largely ended Yemen’s civil war in 2022.
    — Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of blockade
Noun
  • Dehydration from frequent bouts of diarrhea can also cause severe illness.
    — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Steven Rodgers, a political science professor at Saint Louis University, said local dynamics will influence the race as much as national trends, noting that a lot of the issues framing the election are largely the same as during their previous bout.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of bout
Noun
  • Speaking to Radio Jornalera NJ, an independent Spanish language media outlet, Lopez-Cornejo’s mother, María, said her son took medication for diabetes, high blood pressure, and seizures.
    — Alex Stambaugh, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The search resulted in the seizure of 70,114 ecstasy pills weighing about 26 kilograms (57 pounds) as well as 4 grams of methamphetamine, authorities report.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of seizure
Noun
  • At the time of his arrest authorities also determined that Taele was a suspect in a robbery case being investigated by the El Segundo Police Department.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The complainant, who was not identified in the initial case report, said Celeste was attacked by a dog and dragged through the woods.
    — Rafael Escalera Montoto, Arkansas Online, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of case
Noun
  • Hong returned as national team coach in 2024 after a previous spell in charge from 2013 to 2014.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Recent research has highlighted the role of supply shocks in recessions over a long spell of history.
    — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of spell

Phrases Containing siege

Browse Nearby Words

siding (with)
siege
sieges
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Cite this Entry

“Siege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/siege. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on siege

Nglish: Translation of siege for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about siege

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