as in sieges
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 guards
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 besieges
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
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Recent Examples of blockades
Stephane Mahe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Its call for a day of blockades, strikes, boycotts, demonstrations and other acts of protest came as Bayrou was preparing plans to massively slash public spending by $51 billion to rein in France's growing deficit and trillions in debts.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Nationwide demonstrations and highway blockades are set for Wednesday, followed by a broader union led strike on September 18.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
By removing the usual corporate blockades, employees could test and build on their ideas quickly.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
According to Reuters, various regional authorities say the mobile internet blockades are intended to disrupt Ukrainian drone strikes.
—PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2025
Beijing's forces have responded to Philippine challenges with blockades, ramming maneuvers, and water cannon, raising fears that a miscalculation could draw the United States into a conflict with its military rival.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
In Syria, the Assad regime had this ‘surrender or starve’ set of blockades.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Security forces deployed across the country to try to remove any blockades as fast as possible, officials said, meaning that France was, for now, not blocked.
—Stephane Mahe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Its call for a day of blockades, strikes, boycotts, demonstrations and other acts of protest came as Bayrou was preparing plans to massively slash public spending by $51 billion to rein in France's growing deficit and trillions in debts.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Nationwide demonstrations and highway blockades are set for Wednesday, followed by a broader union led strike on September 18.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
By removing the usual corporate blockades, employees could test and build on their ideas quickly.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
According to Reuters, various regional authorities say the mobile internet blockades are intended to disrupt Ukrainian drone strikes.
—PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2025
Beijing's forces have responded to Philippine challenges with blockades, ramming maneuvers, and water cannon, raising fears that a miscalculation could draw the United States into a conflict with its military rival.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
In Syria, the Assad regime had this ‘surrender or starve’ set of blockades.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
Road blockades, traffic slowdowns and other protests were widespread – from the southern port city of Marseille to Lille and Caen in the north, and from Nantes and Rennes in the west to Grenoble and Lyon in the southeast.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockades
Noun
-
Climb the fortress trail to San Giovanni—a crumbling hilltop citadel that once guarded the city from Ottoman sieges—where the vistas stretch like a myth across fjord-like waters.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
So in the worst sieges in Syria, people could smuggle themselves in and out.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, the win was a team effort as forward Brianna Turner (four points, six rebounds), forward Mikayla Timpson (nine points), guards Shey Peddy, Lexie Hull, and Aerial Powers brought the defensive energy and physicality that Indiana desperately needed.—
Allison Smith,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The entrance to the building is always locked, and at least one officer guards the stairway down to the safes, where advanced securities are in place, including a fingerprint and iris scanner and an electronic key card reader.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The fervor with which Stamp attacks the role was evident right from the first table read, according to his co-star Lesley Ann Warren.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Gnosia is an enemy that disguises itself as a human and attacks them.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blockades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockades. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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