beset

verb

be·​set bi-ˈset How to pronounce beset (audio)
bē-
beset; besetting
Synonyms of besetnext

transitive verb

1
: to set or stud with or as if with ornaments
a crown beset with rubies
… leaves, whose edges were beset with thorns …J. G. Frazer
2
: trouble, harass
inflation besets the economy
3
a
: to set upon : assail
the explorers were beset by wolves
b
: to hem in : surround
a town beset with high mountains
besetment noun

Examples of beset in a Sentence

A lack of money is the greatest problem besetting the city today. he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But she would probably never get used to middle-aged men beset by the same giddiness as all those preteens, just as eager to stand next to her boy. New York Daily News, 9 May 2026 The 45-mile Delta Conveyance tunnel, which would funnel water via the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to farms and cities in Southern California, has been beset by delays due to litigation over environmental concerns and other regulatory challenges. Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026 May is the month when tiny seeds sprout and the wonders of the natural world, beset by our wintertime images of national fright and ominous threats, permits us to see a hopeful future. Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026 By the late 1990s, however, the Fujimori government was increasingly beset by corruption allegations and human rights scandals, including scrutiny over the financing of Keiko’s education abroad. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for beset

Word History

Etymology

Middle English besetten, from Old English besettan, from be- + settan to set

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beset was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beset. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

beset

verb
be·​set bi-ˈset How to pronounce beset (audio)
beset; besetting
1
: to trouble with problems
2
: to set upon : assail

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