as in impeding
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in filling
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
as in obstructing
to prevent passage through by filling with something
one of the patient's arteries was so blocked with fatty deposits that blood flow had been reduced to a trickle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intercepting
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blocking
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
City News Service, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
While there wasn’t a 7-foot-4 obstacle blocking the lane, the Clippers still couldn’t get out of their own way and lost to the Spurs for the third time in less than a month, 118-99, at the Intuit Dome.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Jay Banks, who in 1956 was the supervisor in charge of blocking integration at Mansfield High School, and one year later at Texarkana College.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
Say goodbye to oils, fingerprints, dust and debris blocking your vision.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
However, the user should not abandon SPF lotion for a UV-blocking umbrella.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Towering buildings, blocking ocean views that only the uber-wealthy will enjoy.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Much of the pressure comes from Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a 100-mile waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, which carries 20% of the world’s oil shipments and about 20% of the world’s seaborne liquified natural gas.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Mandated safety measures include physical barrier separating opposing traffic, gates blocking all lanes of traffic, and visual indicators like warning lights.
—Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The winner was the player who avoided being blocked the longest — a blocking game, a category of strategy game where the objective centers on restricting your opponent’s movement.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
Residents can protect against the disease by using flea-control treatments on pets year-round, avoiding handling or feeding stray animals, and keeping wildlife away with security trash cans and blocking entry points and hiding places on residential properties.
—City News Service, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
While there wasn’t a 7-foot-4 obstacle blocking the lane, the Clippers still couldn’t get out of their own way and lost to the Spurs for the third time in less than a month, 118-99, at the Intuit Dome.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
Jay Banks, who in 1956 was the supervisor in charge of blocking integration at Mansfield High School, and one year later at Texarkana College.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
Say goodbye to oils, fingerprints, dust and debris blocking your vision.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
However, the user should not abandon SPF lotion for a UV-blocking umbrella.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Towering buildings, blocking ocean views that only the uber-wealthy will enjoy.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Much of the pressure comes from Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a 100-mile waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, which carries 20% of the world’s oil shipments and about 20% of the world’s seaborne liquified natural gas.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Mandated safety measures include physical barrier separating opposing traffic, gates blocking all lanes of traffic, and visual indicators like warning lights.
—Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blocking
Verb
-
And in South Florida groups have stepped in to support migrants navigating complicated immigration processes, from deportation to self-deportation, often filling gaps left by government systems.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Generic Lamps Standard table lamps have started to feel more like placeholders than design decisions, filling space, but not really contributing to it.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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She is now being charged with child endangerment and obstructing the legal process.—
Riley Moser,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Gutierrez was ultimately convicted in Kane County court for that offense, and for having tinted windows and obstructing a police officer, according to court records.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Safety Jessiah McGrew, a Freshman All-American last year after intercepting four passes, transferred to Arizona State.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Middle Eastern countries reported intercepting drones and missiles as dawn broke Friday.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Read on for the golden rules of packing.—
Hannah Chubb,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Injury report While the Cubs head to Cleveland, right fielder Seiya Suzuki is packing his bags to Double-A Knoxville for a rehab stint.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Residents, saying they were surprised by the zoning, began jamming township meetings beginning in May 2023.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Russia has invested in its own military technology, developing unmanned vehicles and signal-jamming systems that can strike targets deep behind Ukrainian lines.—
Olivier Kempf,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kyla Oldacre led Texas with 11 points off the bench while grabbing seven rebounds.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The victim listed in the police records later told police about two incidents of physical assault, including grabbing, scratching, shoving and striking, according to the documents.—
Meriam Bouarrouj,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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No one in my generation remembers the huge labor force of switchboard operators, but in the 1950s there were 340,000 workers physically plugging cords into jacks to connect callers to one another (roughly equivalent to the number of dental assistants today).—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
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The latter two moves shore up the bottom of the roster, plugging the last remaining holes this team has, while the Kadri add is arguably the biggest needle-moving acquisition of the deadline.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Crews began early Saturday dropping water and retardant all around the fire by air.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Daniel’s Mill, which opened as a thread manufacturer in the Civil War era, requires the most work because one of its subsequent owners manufactured fire retardant paint, a process that contaminated the rafters, support beams, flooring and more.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blocking. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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