BLOCK Synonyms: 241 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'block' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of block are hinder , impede , and obstruct . While all these words mean "to interfere with the activity or progress of," block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress. // a landslide blocked the road

Q: When might 'hinder' be a better fit than 'block'?

While the synonyms hinder and block are close in meaning, hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress. // rain hindered the climb

Q: In what contexts can 'impede' take the place of 'block'?

In some situations, the words impede and block are roughly equivalent. However, impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering. // tight clothing that impedes movement

Q: When would 'obstruct' be a good substitute for 'block'?

The meanings of obstruct and block largely overlap; however, obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way. // the view was obstructed by billboards

block 1 of 2

noun

ˈbläk

Definition of block

as in cluster

a number of things considered as a unit bought a block of stocks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obstacle

something that makes movement or progress difficult constant bickering that is only a block to the completion of the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in head

slang the upper or front part of the body that contains the brain, the major sense organs, and the mouth threatened to knock the block off the jerk next door if he didn't can the noise

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in side

a group of people acting together within a larger group a more conservative block within the political party

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in confederacy

an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection a block of oil-producing nations

Synonyms & Similar Words

block

2 of 2

verb

as in to fill

to close up so that no empty spaces remain block up the opening in the wall where a window once was

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to obstruct

to prevent passage through by filling with something one of the patient's arteries was so blocked with fatty deposits that blood flow had been reduced to a trickle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to intercept

to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course a thug suddenly stepped out of a doorway and blocked his escape down the alley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb block contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of block are hinder, impede, and obstruct. While all these words mean "to interfere with the activity or progress of," block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

a landslide blocked the road

When might hinder be a better fit than block?

While the synonyms hinder and block are close in meaning, hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

rain hindered the climb

In what contexts can impede take the place of block?

In some situations, the words impede and block are roughly equivalent. However, impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

tight clothing that impedes movement

When would obstruct be a good substitute for block?

The meanings of obstruct and block largely overlap; however, obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.

the view was obstructed by billboards

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 block

Noun

Her shoe wardrobe ranges from classic block-heel ballerinas to whimsical dainty sandals adorned with lemons. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 Each pass operates on the entire block of text at once, letting the model better use the parallel processing power of GPUs and reach over a thousand tokens per second. — Shubham Agarwal, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Verb

Ultimately, six people—Skarsgård, Colman, Fischer, Wilson, intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien, and Oscar-winning cinematographer Lol Crawley—all experimented with positions together, straddling each other in odd ways to block the scenes. — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026 Early research suggests that smoke from these disasters can blow onto trees across the country and coat leaves, blocking sunlight and interfering with photosynthesis. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for block

Recent Examples of Synonyms for block

Noun

Genetic comparisons revealed that deep-sea viral communities in the region are almost entirely unique, with just 4 percent of their protein clusters matching global databases.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of cluster

Noun

There’s outward social and internalized pressure on the Dashwood sisters to marry, and do it quickly, but per any Austen tale, the path is blotchy and blocked by obstacles and second-guessing.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
During robot operation, LiDAR supplies information about the surrounding environment, helping the framework account for obstacles and available clearance.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstacle

Noun

Now, in yet another blow to national self-esteem, the ex-head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, has been arrested on charges of exploiting state secrets.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Instead of exchanging the entire print head, the K3 swaps a smaller assembly containing the nozzle, hotend and filament path.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of head

Noun

On one side, the former townhouse faces the splendour of the US Embassy building and its gardens.

— Julia Wytrazek, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
The property is debuting as a member of Leading Hotels of the World, ushering in a new era of luxury for the area, and proving that, yes, chic and fabulous things can happen on either side of the Intracoastal.

— Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of side

Noun

Seneca said the renaming violated the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, which was signed by President George Washington and the Haudenosaunee confederacy promising perpetual peace and friendship.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
July 4 birthed independence but also a dysfunctional confederacy.

— Max Taves, Mercury News, 3 July 2026

Definition of confederacy

Verb

Tear gas filled the area, and Nathaniel saw two attackers in the back of a pickup with automatic weapons.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Richards signed a nonguaranteed one-year deal in late August to fill the 14th spot on the Heat’s standard roster.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of fill

Verb

Abiy's office accused the TPLF of obstructing the agreement and said that the latest fighting ended in its defeat.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Abiy’s office accused the TPLF of obstructing the agreement and said the latest fighting ended in its defeat.

— Khaled Kazziha, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstruct

Verb

Officers at Indianapolis’ express consignment facility also intercepted 96 counterfeit watches bearing Swatch, Audemars Piguet and Rolex trademarks on July 30.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Maryland's elections board was targeted in a suspicious mailing intercepted by law enforcement, as the FBI investigates letters sent to election officials and congressional offices nationwide.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of intercept

Browse Nearby Words

bloc

block

blockade

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/block. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of block

noun

verb

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Synonyms of block

noun

verb

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