as in blocked
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1
as in guarded
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 besieged
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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Recent Examples of blockaded
Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Australia, which relies directly or indirectly on the blockaded Strait of Hormuz for much of its energy imports, has halved fuel taxes and encouraged the use of public transportation amid soaring gas prices.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
Cable news anchors pontificated on the possible environmental toll were the Al Salmi’s cargo of two million barrels of crude discharged into the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 1 Apr. 2026
London — The world, hungry for oil, got a modest reprieve earlier this month when Saudi Arabia began diverting millions of barrels of crude —ordinarily destined for ships transiting the blockaded Strait of Hormuz — to its Red Sea port of Yanbu.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
For more than a week, the country’s teacher’s union has blockaded roads and toppled World Cup statues in an annual push to win better working conditions.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
Iran has blockaded Hormuz since early March, choking off the oil and gas exports of the UAE and the other Gulf Arab producers.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 20 May 2026
The socialist coalition has blockaded key roads in and around La Paz, refusing even to let emergency vehicles pass.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2026
Iran has continued to restrict traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States has blockaded the country’s ports.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Iran has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz for the vast majority of vessels for more than six weeks — a previously unthinkable scenario for a waterway that ordinarily carries about a fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies and a third of the world’s urea fertilizer exports.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded Central to the negotiations is Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point that, if left blockaded, could continue driving oil prices higher and further destabilizing global energy markets.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Three of the four countries that blockaded Qatar—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain—have also been the target of Iranian drones and missiles.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Goldman Sachs estimated that Qatar could see its GDP plunge by 14%, citing its lack of alternative export channels to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Australia, which relies directly or indirectly on the blockaded Strait of Hormuz for much of its energy imports, has halved fuel taxes and encouraged the use of public transportation amid soaring gas prices.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026
Cable news anchors pontificated on the possible environmental toll were the Al Salmi’s cargo of two million barrels of crude discharged into the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 1 Apr. 2026
London — The world, hungry for oil, got a modest reprieve earlier this month when Saudi Arabia began diverting millions of barrels of crude —ordinarily destined for ships transiting the blockaded Strait of Hormuz — to its Red Sea port of Yanbu.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
For more than a week, the country’s teacher’s union has blockaded roads and toppled World Cup statues in an annual push to win better working conditions.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
Iran has blockaded Hormuz since early March, choking off the oil and gas exports of the UAE and the other Gulf Arab producers.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 20 May 2026
The socialist coalition has blockaded key roads in and around La Paz, refusing even to let emergency vehicles pass.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2026
Iran has continued to restrict traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States has blockaded the country’s ports.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Iran has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz for the vast majority of vessels for more than six weeks — a previously unthinkable scenario for a waterway that ordinarily carries about a fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies and a third of the world’s urea fertilizer exports.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded Central to the negotiations is Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point that, if left blockaded, could continue driving oil prices higher and further destabilizing global energy markets.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Three of the four countries that blockaded Qatar—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain—have also been the target of Iranian drones and missiles.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blockaded
Adjective
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Within minutes, crowds filled the barricaded viewing areas as Madonna played a brief set largely from her forthcoming album.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
-
The apartment building was evacuated while the suspect remained barricaded inside.—
Reg Chapman,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The gate was guarded by two Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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For much of the night, McBride also guarded Paige Bueckers, the former Hopkins High School standout, who led Dallas (7-4) with 23 points but had just two assists.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The mass shooting that claimed 49 lives and injured dozens of others—the deadliest hate crime targeting LGBTQ+ people in American history—still leaves a grievous mark, most especially in a city, state and nation besieged with new attacks on the gay community.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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In place of the ancient forest was a shorn land besieged by uncontrollable wildfires, prone to land-slides and erosion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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If the plants are too congested, replant the healthiest sections.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
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While the region thankfully remains far less congested and self-serious, the Allison endures as a uniquely supple base for exploring.—
David Amsden,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The two sisters entered the restaurant, ran behind the counter and attacked the 23-year-old employee after they were given a wrong order, prosecutors said, according to the outlet.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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Hundreds of people have been killed in fighting between the two countries since February, when Afghanistan attacked Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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StubHub should have disclosed the obstructed view upfront.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Depending on your vantage point, the band was often semi-obstructed or blocked from view.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Baghaei said the future of the choked Strait of Hormuz will depend on the countries of Oman and Iran, as both nations have a plan to manage passage through the waterway.—
Alayna Treene,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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San Franciscans who think Muni buses are always packed, or prone to crawl along choked streets, may find their views validated in a new slide presentation released by the Municipal Transportation Agency.—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blockaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blockaded. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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