siege

noun

ˈsēj How to pronounce siege (audio)
Definition of siegenext
1
as in attack
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder a devastating siege of typhoid fever hit the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blockade
the cutting off of an area by military means to stop the flow of people or supplies after a siege of six weeks, the city of Vicksburg surrendered to General Grant and his Union forces

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 siege In all, the megacluster provides a sophisticated siege on an essential pathway in many bacteria, including Streptomyces’ foes. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026 Born and educated in El Fasher, Ibrahim, a general practitioner, had worked throughout the siege in the last functioning health care facility, known as the Saudi Maternity Hospital, in the city. — Janine Di Giovanni, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026 Disease had significantly weakened Tenochtitlán’s ability to withstand Cortés’s siege, and the Europeans eventually wore the Aztec warriors down and broke through the city’s defenses, slaughtering the Aztecs and destroying the city. — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 June 2026 Trump was later indicted for his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election that culminated in the siege, but the case was dismissed following his presidential victory in November 2024. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for siege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for siege
  1. attack
  2. blockade
  3. bout
  4. seizure
  5. case
  6. spell
Noun
  • The British Army also provided protection from attacks by Native American tribes, giving many settlers little reason to support a rebellion.
    — Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Twice in recent days, the United States has launched retaliatory strikes on Iran following drone attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • Iran’s closure and America’s subsequent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz locked in a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • That fact was starkly illustrated by the war in Iran, which saw Tehran effectively close the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic and Washington respond with a blockade of Iranian ports.
    — John Calabrese, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
Definition of blockade
Noun
  • His chaotic style had him in position to win both bouts, but Gaethje was taking too much damage.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 July 2026
  • Haaland’s winning goal came after another bout of yanking and pulling; the striker tried to free himself by slapping the defender’s arm away, eventually just carrying on regardless.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of bout
Noun
  • In court documents, O’Hara alleged the defendants violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, accusing them of unlawfully restricting free speech and initiating an unlawful seizure while using excessive force.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Later Wednesday, Mexico City Health Secretary Nadine Gasman, told a news conference that another man, about 30, was treated by emergency personnel after suffering an epileptic seizure, convulsions, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of seizure
Noun
  • As of July 6, 23 cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed in two of Manhattan's Upper East Side neighborhoods, according to the New York City Department of Health.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • Multiple references are made to an op-ed Weist wrote making a case for greater regulation of the private investigator industry.
    — Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of case
Noun
  • In France, more than 1,000 excess deaths were recorded during the heat spell, according to the country’s national public health agency.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Dettori retired as a jockey after taking some rides in Brazil following a spell racing in the United States, Britain's PA news agency reported.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of spell

Phrases Containing siege

Browse Nearby Words

siding (with)
siege
sieges
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Cite this Entry

“Siege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/siege. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on siege

Nglish: Translation of siege for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about siege

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