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 Tony season in New York is a veritable marathon for theater-folk, who are besieged by invites to countless classy events in succession. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
  • He is accused of attacking a 27-year-old man with a beer mug inside the Hula Bar on Saturday night.
    Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Liv Morgan controversially interrupted Iyo Sky's coronation, attacking her and forcing a tap-out.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Instead, Isaac, 28, will become an unrestricted free agent after nine years in Orlando that were plagued by injury.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
  • Greenberg tried his best to ignore an irritating ankle injury that had plagued him the last couple of weeks and grimaced under the hazy sunlight as the pitcher, probably 20 or more years his junior, stared him down.
    Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Yet, the same people who begged for this opportunity for years suddenly want to police the moment.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • Everything from the division of the Peaches and the Plums to Shamea’s tagline this season is a secret cry from Shamea to Porsha, begging for attention under the guise of her own emancipation.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 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
  • With seemingly nowhere left to turn, Apple petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene in a last-ditch attempt to keep fees at an acceptable rate.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026
  • With an $800 daily fine soon going into effect over her 2024 civil contempt ruling, Fox News alum Catherine Herridge‘s legal team has petitioned for a stay after she was ordered to reveal her sources for her 2017 stories about Yanping Chen.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Lend your home a bohemian touch with Safavieh’s rug encircled with jute medallions.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2026
  • Cheers roared from the crowd encircling the concrete arena as two skateboarders slammed into each other at top speed.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine have been persecuted.
    Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Pennsylvania’s 1682 frame of government promised that law-abiding people would not be persecuted for their religious views or forced to worship.
    Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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