blockade 1 of 2

Definition of blockadenext
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

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blockade

2 of 2

verb

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

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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

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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 blockade
Noun
Unfortunately, the crunch on memory and storage, in part due to the blockade of the Straits of Hormuz and, mostly, to the voracious demands of AI data centres, is having a disproportionate impact across the consumer electronics world. Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 House blockade House Speaker Mike Johnson arrives for an early-morning meeting with fellow Republicans at the Capitol in Washington earlier this month. Adam Beam, AJC.com, 25 June 2026
Verb
Gang federations such as the G9, for example, has blockaded access to ports and restricted access to gasoline and diesel supplies, while other groups, including the 5 Segonn gang, have periodically blocked access to the private Port Lafito. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026 For more than a week, the country’s teacher’s union has blockaded roads and toppled World Cup statues in an annual push to win better working conditions. ABC News, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for blockade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockade
Noun
  • State officials downplayed the threat of a prolonged siege, dismissing the prospect of weekly disruptions as standard white noise.
    Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
  • History fans should look out for the climb up to the Château de Montségur, once a stronghold of the Cathar religious rebels, and scene of a bloody siege in 1244.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Publicly, both players have been complimentary of one another, although Brooks didn’t hide his frustration on Monday when asked about guarding the two-time MVP.
    Eric Koreen, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • For most of my career, the loyalty industry treated data as an asset to be guarded and exported to specialists.
    Aneesh Reddy, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Boston was besieged by the Tartan Army.
    Becky Sullivan, NPR, 28 June 2026
  • Boris Yeltsin, to everyone’s shock, had then walked through the crowd and climbed one of the Soviet tanks besieging him.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • He is accused of attacking a 27-year-old man with a beer mug inside the Hula Bar on Saturday night.
    Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Liv Morgan controversially interrupted Iyo Sky's coronation, attacking her and forcing a tap-out.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The singer, who notably assaulted ex-girlfriend and Fenty beauty mogul Rihanna the night before the 2009 Grammy Awards, pleaded not guilty last year in the Diaw case.
    Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • One of the suspects also assaulted and sprayed paint on a person, and when officers tried to detain the suspects several blocks away at Turk and Taylor streets, other people surrounded and obstructed the officers, police said.
    Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockade. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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