blocs

noun

plural of bloc
1
as in factions
a group of people acting together within a larger group a whole bloc of students got together to complain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in coalitions
an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection the bloc that the United States and most of western Europe formed during the Cold War

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 blocs North Texans are eager to cast their ballots, and among the region's largest and most influential voting blocs are Latino voters. — Marissa Armas, CBS News, 27 May 2026 The global technology stack is splintering into rival blocs that no longer share standards, priorities, or even a common definition of winning. — Mark Minevich, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Polls give Vannacci’s party single-digit support, but that’s a potentially decisive share when time comes for coalition building, given Italy’s main center-right and center-left blocs are so closely matched. — Giada Zampano, Fortune, 15 June 2026 The prime minister said that together, the EU and Canada are one of the largest economic, cultural, technological, financial and military blocs in the world. — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026 Polls put Vannacci's Futuro Nazionale at around 4% to nearly 5%, a potentially decisive share with Italy’s main center-right and center-left blocs closely matched. — ABC News, 14 June 2026 That has raised concerns that the next era of wireless communications—headlined by 6G and Wi-Fi 8—will result in the world’s three largest economic blocs adopting three incompatible wireless spectrum models. — Stephen Cousins, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026 Jackson also said the provision shaped the 1st, 4th and 7th Congressional Districts in the Chicago area and include Black and Hispanic voting blocs. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026 Several trading blocs that had previously entered into trade negotiations with the United States, including Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Ecuador, Indonesia and Pakistan, would be subject to the new 10% tariff. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blocs
  1. factions
  2. coalitions
  3. parties
  4. alliances
  5. sides
  6. unions
  7. federations
  8. leagues
Noun
  • Season 3 of the series returned with a bloody episode and a skyrocketing death toll, which continues to rise, as the rival Targaryen factions clashed in the shock-and-awe-inspiring Battle of the Gullet.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • The division of the Fromvillians should also have been set in motion by this point, with two clear factions squaring off.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of factions
Noun
  • Women build communities, launch initiatives, and create coalitions on shoestring budgets while the institutional resources that would let those efforts scale remain largely inaccessible.
    — Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Grants will fund coalitions of two or more organizations, such as healthcare providers, local health departments and organizations with experience in food assistance and distribution.
    — Kate Gray, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Definition of coalitions
Noun
  • As far afield as Malaysia and Thailand, fans celebrated the singer’s big day with parties of their own – hosting bachelorette-style fetes in honor of Swift’s wedding.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • And, people will be outside in droves, at cookouts, parades, parties and fireworks shows.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of parties
Noun
  • The second season continues a very slow build as both sides navigate alliances and shore up their power, though the Battle of Rook’s Rest gives us our first real dragon battle.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • But Canada and Japan are only two countries in a world seeking to form similar alliances to break free from China.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026
Definition of alliances
Noun
  • Kessler and the Jazz had been in contract talks, and the two sides met in person in early June, but those discussions didn’t go very far toward a resolution.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • The bagel shop, which offers an array of sandwiches, sides and sweets, will fill the former Java’s Brewing Bakery and Café space at 1526 Providence Road S.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
Definition of sides
Noun
  • The mandate was delayed following pushback from workers and their unions, which continue to oppose and demonstrate against the order.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • Along with other unions, Bates’ group has long called for Britain’s government to introduce a maximum workplace temperature.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of unions
Noun
  • The rule change was unanimously approved by IFAB, which includes officials from FIFA and the four British soccer federations, at a special meeting ahead of the FIFA Congress.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Phil McCartney, chief innovation, design and product officer for Nike, said the company worked with athletes, coaches and football federations to understand how uniforms affect the game.
    — Claire Rush, Fortune, 28 June 2026
Definition of federations
Noun
  • In other pro sports leagues, there are salary caps and maximum salaries, which are depicted as helping to promote fair play and leveling the playing field.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 July 2026
  • Queiroz is confident his experience can help guide a team of talented players, many of whom also play in some of the biggest pro leagues in the world.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Definition of leagues

Browse Nearby Words

blocky
blocs
blog
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blocs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blocs. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on blocs

Nglish: Translation of blocs for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All