block 1 of 2

1
2
3
as in head
slang the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth threatened to knock the block off the jerk next door if he didn't can the noise

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in side
a group of people acting together within a larger group a more conservative block within the political party

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

block

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to fill
to close up so that no empty spaces remain block up the opening in the wall where a window once was

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to intercept
to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course a thug suddenly stepped out of a doorway and blocked his escape down the alley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb block contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of block are hinder, impede, and obstruct. While all these words mean "to interfere with the activity or progress of," block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

a landslide blocked the road

When might hinder be a better fit than block?

While the synonyms hinder and block are close in meaning, hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

rain hindered the climb

In what contexts can impede take the place of block?

In some situations, the words impede and block are roughly equivalent. However, impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

tight clothing that impedes movement

When would obstruct be a good substitute for block?

The meanings of obstruct and block largely overlap; however, obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.

the view was obstructed by billboards

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 block
Noun
Dak is 24th on CU’s single-season blocks list with 39. ... Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2025 Long Beach’s hottest new restaurant is a Filipino vegan bakery with lines down the block. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
The Justice Department and several civil rights groups challenged parts of the law, a federal judge agreed to block some of its most controversial parts, and Alabama ultimately agreed to a settlement, according to the American Immigration Council. Eric Levenson, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025 While blocking may not be the biggest skill, this guy needs to have guts to hold his own in the trenches, ala Shannon Sharp, while beating the defenses catching passes. Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for block
Noun
  • Today the two eateries are still going strong, and in friendly competition among a cluster of pizza joints.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
  • In January, standing before a cluster of television cameras on the steps of the state Capitol, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp promoted his experiment in Medicaid reform as a showcase for fellow conservatives seeking to overhaul safety net benefits around the country.
    Margaret Coker, ProPublica, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • As a result, digital health companies such as Hims & Hers have been prescribing compounded semaglutide as an alternative for patients who are navigating volatile supply hurdles and insurance obstacles.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Build out a timeline, address potential obstacles and decide who owns each task.
    Ricky Muddimer, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Delimitros said one of the truck’s side view mirrors struck her in the head, causing minor injuries.
    David Hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, 19 July 2017
  • Cal Fire representatives said the current parking mess has already impacted them because the driveway to their station enters the highway not far from the trail head.
    J. Harry Jones, Ramona Sentinel, 19 July 2017
Noun
  • On the positive side, Lee noted that portfolio activity was slightly better than expectations.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2025
  • At the top of new space, most visitors now enter the Grand Hall from the south side of space, although some may still choose to enter from the west side stairs that have been the traditional entry since the aquarium opened.
    Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Men were the representatives of their clans and nations in the Haudenosaunee council, which made decisions for the confederacy as a whole.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Adams wanted to align the young Republic with Great Britain, while Jefferson favored a confederacy with France.
    Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Aug. 2024
Verb
  • The group on Mondays will lead two hours, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The move will have direct implications for Joy Reid, the anchor who currently fills 7 p.m.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The three women are shown to a table among tables filled with women.
    Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The leader of a political region within the broader nation, Dodik was at the time under U.S. sanctions by the Trump administration for actively obstructing American efforts to prevent more bloodshed.
    Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 16 Feb. 2025
  • For instance, President Donald Trump and the GOP have threatened to block disaster relief for Californian wildfires, to obstruct the return of federal relief for state and local tax payments, and to roll back the massive industrial investments from Biden-era legislation.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Stephen Henriques, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • From stealing passwords and authentication cookies to intercepting OTPs and draining cryptocurrency wallets, these threats are growing in both sophistication and scale.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2025
  • The first letter was intercepted by Hudson during a cell search at the Arapahoe County Detention Center.
    Andi Babineau and Ray Sanchez, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/block. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on block

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!