besiege

Definition of besiegenext
1
as in to attack
to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication armies besieged the city for six months before it finally surrendered

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 besiege Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria. Helaine Williams, Arkansas Online, 6 June 2026 In the 41st millennium, the Imperium of Man is besieged by extraterrestrial forces of all sorts and even darker threats, but humanity's defenders are brutal and relentless, too. Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 2 June 2026 VidCon, the annual online video tech convention that rolls around at the end of June, will be besieged by agents and producers seeking the next great YouTube auteur. Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 2 June 2026 Bay Area content creator Kane Parsons pushes back on conventional storytelling, and his hypnotic approach results in one of 2026’s most exhilarating debuts, a existential head trip that GoPros us into a human subconscious besieged by misshapen memories that trap and hold you hostage. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
  • His pace routinely bothered Sweden, including on one impressive solo run in the first half that produced a quality attacking scenario.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026
  • The video then shows the woman throwing Martinez to the ground, grabbing her by the hair and repeatedly attacking her as bystanders try to step in and help.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • The high school exam board, CBSE, has faced public outrage over an electronic marking system plagued with technical glitches, during which students said answers were wrongly marked or, in some cases, answer sheets were omitted entirely.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 20 June 2026
  • The department said that all reopenings of the Reflecting Pool have been plagued by algae blooms and that vacuuming up the algae would take a couple of days.
    Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Packing shoes that look cute but leave your feet begging for mercy by day two.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026
  • Up to this point, Ruthye has begged Supergirl to help her exact revenge on Krem, which the heroine has refused, so the alignment of their goals ends up a convenient happenstance.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for the region's oil and gas, was effectively blockaded since the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran in late February.
    Gail Krishnan, CNBC, 23 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, Lord Corlys Velaryon and his fleet have the city blockaded, while Team Black commands from Dragonstone and Daemon battles in the Riverlands and Aemond broods on the throne, which he’s taken from his maimed brother.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • They are both afflicted by cognitive and/or hearing issues.
    Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026
  • Two-thirds of respondents afflicted with alpha-gal reported anxiety or depressive disorders in a 2025 University of Missouri survey.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Eitay Mack, an Israeli lawyer who has petitioned the Israeli government to enforce controls over shipments of surveillance technology, believes Cellebrite has the capability to remotely prevent devices from operating.
    Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • If the taxes go unpaid after three years, the county would auction off the property deed to the highest bidder and the original homeowner could petition to get the post-debt profits.
    Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Departing from traditional geographical or chronological arrangements, the show aims to take advantage of the layout of the galleries, which encircle a courtyard and allow multiple entry points.
    Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 17 June 2026
  • What Iran tried to do is encircle Israel with fire, with enemies.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Supporting people who have too often been, and continue to be, persecuted and othered would be a direct way to address the suffering.
    Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 14 June 2026
  • It's partially inspired by director Benjamin Christensen's research on the German text Malleus Maleficarum, a guide to witchcraft for inquisitors looking to persecute its perpetrators.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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