blockade 1 of 2

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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Examples 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
Politics: Elon Musk is trying to help push the far-right Alternative for Germany party through a political blockade and into the mainstream. Natasha Frost, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025 Most Canadians supported the move and opposed the weekslong blockades, but the Federal Court of Canada ruled last year that the use of the powers was unreasonable. Amanda Coletta The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
Just a few months prior, Blackbeard and his small pirate flotilla had blockaded Charleston, South Carolina, for close to a week. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024 The White House and the vice president’s residence at the Naval Observatory have been blockaded with anti-climb fencing. Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for blockade 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockade
Noun
  • Like the half-million civilians remaining in Stalingrad when it was surrounded by Nazi forces, Gaza's residents are stuck within a siege, unable even to flee from the ruins to save their lives.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
  • There is some variation in the mix — Origins allows troops to perform certain tasks like opening locked doors or destroying watchtowers, as well as special squad attacks like arrow sieges and rally cries that can be useful in the midst of the action.
    Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • As for the status of Butler trade talks, the agent for Suns guard Bradley Beal, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, reiterated to The Athletic on Tuesday that nothing is brewing between the Heat and Phoenix that involves his longtime client.
    Sam Amick, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Teasing out the true effect of the risk of Trump tariffs on overall import gains is difficult because companies closely guard trade data.
    Lisa Baertlein and Ellen Zhang, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Alawites have become a community besieged, set to be excluded — if not persecuted — by the Sunni political class now in ascendance.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Russian field armies are besieging the city of Pokrvosk just south of Kurdyumivka and also besieging the city of Chasiv Yar north of Kurdyumivka.
    David Axe, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • On Wednesday, gunmen attacked a checkpoint near Jableh, killing two members of the new government’s security force.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
  • The Chargers have the space to potentially attack the top of the market at this position.
    Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Schubert was convicted of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers and sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
    Michael Moore Jr., Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Convicted of assaulting a law enforcement officer and civil disorder.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockade. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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