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
The women’s orchestra, separated from their fellow inmates in a special block, was required by their Nazi overseers to play jaunty marches every morning and evening so that other female prisoners kept in step as they were sent to work outside the camp. Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025 Its detection suggests such objects may be far more common than previously thought, increasing the plausibility that young stars frequently acquire these alien building blocks. Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
Teachers, train drivers, pharmacists and hospital staff were among those who went on strike as part of the day of protests, while teenagers blocked dozens of high schools. Reuters, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025 The measures could be blocked by other member states; Germany has been reluctant to condemn Israel’s actions and others have shown support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for block
Noun
  • The hox gene clusters have two chunks of regulatory DNA that help set the activity of the genes within the cluster, one upstream of the genes, one downstream.
    John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
  • If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This means that fuel cells can, theoretically, operate without the infrastructure problems of electric or hydrogen vehicles, but the real obstacle is achieving sheer power in a light, compact engine that is compliant with existing regulations.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025
  • This enables the robot to figure out its precise navigation and obstacle avoidance coordinates, with an accuracy down to 2 centimeters.
    Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • During Tuesday's media availability, Swinney addressed concerns about Clemson's 1-2 start by pointing to the track record since he was named head coach in 2009.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The stylus connects to a side bar near the screen of the tablet, which then charges it wirelessly.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Chelsea were still in the game at 2-1 down yet, 10 minutes after the interval, the home side were on top and some of Maresca’s players were beginning to struggle.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In the sixteenth century, the nomadic, reindeer-herding Sámi people of what’s now northern Sweden and Finland and the Shawnee of the Ohio Valley in North America, who lived in farming villages organized as a confederacy, didn’t necessarily have much in common.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Americans are divided on that topic, with 55% saying historical figures that supported the confederacy and racial segregation should not be memorialized in a June 2024 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • It was filled with a silicon-carbide pre-ceramic polymer and heat-treated to form amorphous silicon carbide.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
  • An even bigger concern may be whether New York has an in-house center capable of filling the 3C void.
    Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Yet the longer Israel obstructs the Hezbollah disarmament plan, the less receptive most of Lebanon’s Shias will be to it.
    Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Ahkello Witherspoon #4 of the Los Angeles Rams intercepts a pass during the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Inglewood, California.
    Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Polish and Dutch jets intercepted the drones, with assistance from Italian, German and NATO’s multinational forces, officials said.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/block. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

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