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 For most of history, imposing serious economic pressure required the deployment of military forces: ships blockading ports, armies laying siege to cities. — Edward Fishman, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2025 The Biden administration provided thousands of the bombs in the early days of Israel's siege of Gaza, launched after Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped about 250 others on Oct. 7, 2023. — Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025 Some historians describe this siege as the defining moment in a genocidal campaign that forced thousands of Diné people to march hundreds of miles, at gunpoint, from their homelands here in Arizona to Hweeldi, or Fort Sumner, in present-day New Mexico. — Alastair Lee Bitsóí, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2025 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 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
  • The attack starts with hackers uploading what looks like a harmless extension to the Chrome Web Store.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Many of the attacks on Tesla cars and dealerships are allegedly in protest of Elon Musk‘s efforts to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government through pressure from the Department of Government Efficiency.
    — Heather Hunter, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The Liberian government’s blockade began when the military prevented people from the western regions of Grand Cape Mount from entering the capital city.
    — Edna Bonhomme, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025
  • To begin, those who ignorantly claim that all blockades are automatically a war crime, are simply wrong.
    — William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of blockade
Noun
  • The shelter push comes at a critical time in Central Florida’s bout with homelessness.
    — Michael Cuglietta, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Castaneda’s fight was pushed to March 8, and Gutierrez stepped up to take the short-notice bout.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of bout
Noun
  • Frozen state assets were used to compensate victims of Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait and Iran’s 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
    — DAVID McHUGH, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Wakefield passed away at the age of 57 in October 2023 following a seizure resulting from brain cancer.
    — Erik Matuszewski, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of seizure
Noun
  • This may not have been the original plan with Starfield, and Microsoft said as much back during its court case about the Activision acquisition.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The initial case which led to Abelson's injunction was brought by the Baltimore Mayor and city council, along with a number of organizations including the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of case
Noun
  • Patrick is willing to do anything to help his wife but becomes distrustful of the retreat’s enigmatic leader even as Abigail falls under her spell.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The pair played key roles in Moyes overseeing a renaissance during his four-and-a-half year managerial spell.
    — Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of spell

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Cite this Entry

“Siege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/siege. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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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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