as in siege
the cutting off of an area by military means to stop the flow of people or supplies
it was the blockade of all the enemy's major ports that finally won the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to guard
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to besiege
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of blockade
Natasha Frost, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Most Canadians supported the move and opposed the weekslong blockades, but the Federal Court of Canada ruled last year that the use of the powers was unreasonable.
—Amanda Coletta The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024
The White House and the vice president’s residence at the Naval Observatory have been blockaded with anti-climb fencing.
—Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blockade 
Noun
Politics: Elon Musk is trying to help push the far-right Alternative for Germany party through a political blockade and into the mainstream.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Most Canadians supported the move and opposed the weekslong blockades, but the Federal Court of Canada ruled last year that the use of the powers was unreasonable.
—Amanda Coletta The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
Just a few months prior, Blackbeard and his small pirate flotilla had blockaded Charleston, South Carolina, for close to a week.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024
The White House and the vice president’s residence at the Naval Observatory have been blockaded with anti-climb fencing.
—Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blockade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockade
Noun
-
Like the half-million civilians remaining in Stalingrad when it was surrounded by Nazi forces, Gaza's residents are stuck within a siege, unable even to flee from the ruins to save their lives.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
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There is some variation in the mix — Origins allows troops to perform certain tasks like opening locked doors or destroying watchtowers, as well as special squad attacks like arrow sieges and rally cries that can be useful in the midst of the action.—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Ortberg was guarded in his message about the status of solving problems with anti-icing systems on the 737-7 and -10 models.—
Abhijith Ganapavaram,
USA TODAY,
28 Jan. 2025
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With his length, agility, quickness and leaping ability, Morris has the versatility to guard multiple positions, either in the post or on the perimeter.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Alawites have become a community besieged, set to be excluded — if not persecuted — by the Sunni political class now in ascendance.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Russian field armies are besieging the city of Pokrvosk just south of Kurdyumivka and also besieging the city of Chasiv Yar north of Kurdyumivka.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Trump appointee Michael Pack won confirmation from the U.S. Senate in May 2020 after a two-year wait and spent his seven-plus months in office attacking many of its journalists.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2025
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Were none of those people guilty as charged, even though there’s footage of them attacking police officers and one of them has already been rearrested on federal gun charges?—
Belinda Luscombe,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Schubert was convicted of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers and sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.—
Michael Moore Jr.,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
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He was scheduled for trial in March on 15 counts, including felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder.—
Danielle Battaglia,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near blockade
Cite this Entry
“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockade. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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