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 The 13-day siege ended with Mexican troops overrunning the Texian defenders, a loss that became a rallying cry for the Texas Revolution. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 In February 2025, the military broke a siege on el-Obeid that had lasted more than a year. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 Harvard housed 1,600 soldiers in five campus buildings during the siege of Boston, which ran from 1775 to 1776. — Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 3 July 2026 In 1778, however, Barton was injured near Bristol Ferry, preventing him from fighting in the Siege of Newport or the Battle of Rhode Island, but the area where the Patriots planned the siege in Tiverton is named Fort Barton after him. — Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 3 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
  • Iran’s new energy weapon Following the start of US- and Israeli-led attacks on February 28, Iran almost immediately declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, creating the largest oil supply shock in history.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • While setting up an attack near the France box, midfielder Dani Olmo overcame a hard challenge that knocked him down to play a through ball to Pedro Porro.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The original blockade had lasted from April 13 to June 18, before Washington and Tehran signed the memorandum of understanding to work towards an end of the war.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Lawmakers broke through a blockade of heavily armed soldiers and police at Seoul’s National Assembly and voted to repeal the measure, forcing Yoon’s Cabinet to lift it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
Definition of blockade
Noun
  • While referee Herb Dean has faced recent scrutiny for other bouts, this stoppage was widely regarded as clean and timely.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
  • The resulting illness, cyclosporiasis, causes bouts of diarrhea that, if left untreated, can wreak havoc on the digestive system for a month.
    — Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026
Definition of bout
Noun
  • Brody also cited the former stockbroker Patten's remorse for his crime of securities fraud, and his history of seizures, which included two in February and May, as other reasons for a non-prison sentence.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • On Monday, the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued a statement on Facebook announcing the arrests, as well as the seizure of copious amounts of drugs over the course of Phish’s three shows at the Ruoff Music Center.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026
Definition of seizure
Noun
  • A little over 22 months later in December 2025, FIFA announced the full list of group stage matches with venues and dates attached, giving DFW a strong case for the best slate across the board.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • What began as a low-level juvenile case became five years in secure custody as his behavior deteriorated and new charges accumulated.
    — Christina Buttons, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
Definition of case
Noun
  • The agency compared the heat wave’s severity to that of August 2003, when a 16-day hot spell caused 70,000 deaths across Europe.
    — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2026
  • Onana was forced off during Belgium’s round-of-16 win over the USMNT and is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 15 July 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 19 Jul. 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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