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 Some of her followers, including those involved in the Peterborough police siege, faced criminal charges. — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026 On Martha’s Vineyard, which has come under recent siege by lone star ticks, hunting is having a resurgence. — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 The Houthis had their own reasons to move, especially Riyadh’s siege of Yemeni ports and a military strike on Sanaa airport. — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 30 July 2026 El Fasher in the Darfur region is another major flashpoint, where the RSF took control in October 2025 and killed more than 6,000 people in the initial siege of the city. — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 29 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
  • Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia this year, with long-range missiles and swarms of drones targeting military industries and energy facilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Weeks of Iranian drone and missile attacks on the UAE earlier this year, the vast majority of which were intercepted, sparked tensions among locals and hammered the country's tourism and aviation industry.
    — Jenni Reid,Emma Graham, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The Bab el-Mandeb strait, where Yemen Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in mid-July, also saw just 49 weekend transits by commodity vessels, according to Reuters, down from 55 in the prior week.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Strait of Hormuz The US agreed to end its naval blockade of Iranian ports within 30 days of signing the agreement.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of blockade
Noun
  • Similar bouts of traders closing short positions in early June and early July initially pushed prices higher before the gains eventually faded.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In Las Vegas for the Mike Tyson-Bruce Seldon fight at the MGM Grand, Shakur and Knight were among the entertainment-industry celebrities who descended on Sin City for the bout.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of bout
Noun
  • The driver of the vehicle was arrested following the seizure of the stash of 369 kilograms (813 pounds) of cocaine on Wednesday, police said, but provided no explanation for the stickers with the image of the golden-haired Norwegian striker.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The driver of the vehicle was arrested following the seizure of the stash of 469 kilograms (1,034 pounds) of cocaine on Wednesday, police said in a statement.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of seizure
Noun
  • The outcome of this bellwether case is expected to significantly influence whether other states pursue similar legal actions against AI companies.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • For the 11-year-old Batisa, though, his immediate concern is not the disease which has killed more than 2,300 people among at least 5,000 cases.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of case
Noun
  • Mourinho’s first game back at the Bernabeu should be box-office given the divisions his last spell in charge from 2010 to 2013 caused at Madrid — and his behaviour when managing Benfica against Madrid in the Champions League last year.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Her attempt to drain the last bit of magic had backfired into a Fear spell.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 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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