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
But the president's signature blockade has now delayed the overwhelmingly bipartisan housing bill, which both parties were hoping to use as an example of resolving the affordability crisis. Garrett Downs, CNBC, 2 July 2026 Energy importers across Africa have been hard hit by the Iran war and the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of Africa’s fuel passed before the conflict. Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
Britain responded with a war-footing, blockading the Bay of Naples. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 June 2026 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 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
  • Diving for loose balls, boxing out, guarding whoever Steve Kerr told him to, and occasionally making a basket.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • Chiefs guard Trey Smith is not the only member of his family currently in the NFL, as his sister Ashley has a role in the league office.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 July 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
  • According to court documents reviewed by The Times, the model alleges that Sandoval shoved her down a flight of stairs in his home, pushed her to the ground at a hotel in Nashville, and attacked her and her father on June 3.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Electing to keep his No 5 on the field, the Brazil head coach made a subtle tactical tweak that saw Endrick enter the action and brought Matheus Cunha further to the left flank — which unlocked the attacking prowess of Vinicius Junior.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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