beset

verb

bi-ˈset How to pronounce beset (audio)
Definition of besetnext
1
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to attack
to take sudden, violent action against the unsuspecting tourists were suddenly beset by robbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 beset An American experiment that seems, once again, beset by argument – over what that country is, who belongs to it and whether its oldest institutions can hold. — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026 This avian bystander may have recognized a fellow bird of prey in Coriolanus, whose role in the Roman ecosystem is necessary yet not fit for all purposes in a young democracy beset with growing pains. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 The game was beset with performance issues, to the point where even high-end gaming PCs were struggling to achieve decent frame rates and about the only way to make the game playable was to rely on super-powerful cloud gaming rigs. — Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 Bericoto acknowledged that his mind is beset by the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, where the death toll continues to rise from the massive earthquakes that struck the country last Wednesday. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for beset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beset
  1. plague
  2. attack
  3. afflict
  4. assault
  5. persecute
  6. raid
  7. besiege
  8. storm
Verb
  • Andrew Harnik | Getty Images A rocky start The anniversary rollout has also been plagued by problems on the ground.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • In the 30 years following the tune’s release, disappointment has only continued to plague the Three Lions.
    — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • According to court documents reviewed by The Times, the model alleges that Sandoval shoved her down a flight of stairs in his home, pushed her to the ground at a hotel in Nashville, and attacked her and her father on June 3.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Electing to keep his No 5 on the field, the Brazil head coach made a subtle tactical tweak that saw Endrick enter the action and brought Matheus Cunha further to the left flank — which unlocked the attacking prowess of Vinicius Junior.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of attack
Verb
  • Jude, meanwhile, was shifting from tossing cones to tugging at his ears, afflicted with the same malady that had landed several of the toddlers on the room’s version of the injury list.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
  • Advertisement Mission hijacking in the nonprofit space A similar overcrowding afflicts the pro-democracy space today.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026
Definition of afflict
Verb
  • The singer, who notably assaulted ex-girlfriend and Fenty beauty mogul Rihanna the night before the 2009 Grammy Awards, pleaded not guilty last year in the Diaw case.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • One of the suspects also assaulted and sprayed paint on a person, and when officers tried to detain the suspects several blocks away at Turk and Taylor streets, other people surrounded and obstructed the officers, police said.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of assault
Verb
  • The Washington Principles also recognize that many sales of artwork by Jews during the Nazi era occurred while they were being persecuted, or under duress.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
  • Representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine have been persecuted.
    — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • Alaska also demonstrates that the fear that dividends automatically create dependency or invite politicians to raid the principal is overblown.
    — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Added to this, Whitehall has historically faced criticism for treating the armed forces as a budget piggy bank to be raided whenever public funds run short.
    — David Szondy July 01, New Atlas, 1 July 2026
Definition of raid
Verb
  • Boston was besieged by the Tartan Army.
    — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 28 June 2026
  • Boris Yeltsin, to everyone’s shock, had then walked through the crowd and climbed one of the Soviet tanks besieging him.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Definition of besiege
Verb
  • Trump stormed out of a June 7 interview with current moderator Kristen Welker in Wisconsin.
    — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The Cavaliers won the 2015-2016 championship in a remarkable series in which Cleveland stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to win in seven games, a first in finals history.
    — Austin Turner, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of storm

Browse Nearby Words

beseems
beset
besets
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Cite this Entry

“Beset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beset. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of beset for Spanish Speakers

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