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
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
In the first three months of the war, the archive collected dreams featuring air raids, fireworks, Molotov cocktails, shells, guns, railway stations, debris, drones, soldiers, bunkers, planes, concrete blockades, loudspeakers, camouflage netting, alarm backpacks, Telegram and Signal networks.
—Mireille Juchau, The Dial, 4 Feb. 2025
David Axe, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
Trump and many of his advisers are more hawkish on China than on Russia, but that does not mean Trump would risk direct conflict with China if Chinese forces blockaded Taiwan.
—Robin Niblett, Foreign Affairs, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Noun
China has responded forcefully to the Philippines' resistance in contested waters, with tactics that include ramming, water cannons and blockades.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
In the first three months of the war, the archive collected dreams featuring air raids, fireworks, Molotov cocktails, shells, guns, railway stations, debris, drones, soldiers, bunkers, planes, concrete blockades, loudspeakers, camouflage netting, alarm backpacks, Telegram and Signal networks.
—Mireille Juchau, The Dial, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
Remember: those same Republicans blockaded the most recent USAI and PDA authorizations for six months before finally relenting in April.
—David Axe, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
Trump and many of his advisers are more hawkish on China than on Russia, but that does not mean Trump would risk direct conflict with China if Chinese forces blockaded Taiwan.
—Robin Niblett, Foreign Affairs, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blockade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockade
Noun
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Fans have long waited to see how the show, produced by Skybound Entertainment, adapts this massive event from Kirkman's comics, which sees Angstrom (Sterling K. Brown) assemble an army of evil Marks from alternate dimensions to lay siege to Earth.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
6 Mar. 2025
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Haiti turmoil continues Haiti’s political transition was formed a year ago this month after then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken flew down to Jamaica as powerful gangs united, and laid siege to Port-au-Prince, forcing the then prime minister’s resignation.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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At one point in the game, Knicks guard Miles McBride knocked the basketball toward Hudson's face.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
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Keegan Murray opened guarding Jokic while Jonas Valanciunas was on Westbrook.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacramento Bee,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Consumers are besieged nearly every day about some news about Elon Musk’s latest moves at the Department of Government Efficiency to gain access to government records that contain sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers.—
Susan Tompor,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
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The series, which also stars Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten and Deanna Allison, follows Lt. Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon), Jim Chee (Gordon) and Bernadette Manuelito (Matten) of the Navajo Tribal Police solving mysteries on their reservation as it is besieged by increasingly violent crimes in the 1970s.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Despite losing all three, there were significant improvements collectively and individually, with contributions from attacking starlets Nico Paz, who scored against Atalanta, and Diao, who got the equaliser against Juventus.—
David Ferrini,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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The case, which generated headlines around the world, comes amid rising hostility against Muslims and Palestinians in the U.S. since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023.—
Sophia Tareen and Melissa Perez Winder,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The owner of a Wisconsin ski hill is accused of assaulting a 17-year-old boy who did not pay for an entry pass, authorities say.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
26 Feb. 2025
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Ruis, who had been arrested by Chula Vista police in December 2023 after being accused of assaulting his wife and children, also had a history of mental illness and had repeatedly threatened other people in jail, including deputies, the lawsuit adds.—
Kelly Davis,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockade. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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