as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
that woman's besetting need to meddle in the affairs of others
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacking
to take sudden, violent action against
the unsuspecting tourists were suddenly beset by robbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of besetting
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
26 June 2026
Both mother and daughter reflect on the troubles besetting their own family, as the mother tries to write a novel.
—
Michael Schaub,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
The Leafs needed an NHL player with injuries besetting their blue line.
—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
To his sons, however, the Party offers meaning and purpose—a powerful countervailing force to the lack of prospects besetting their generation, which had been decimated by the Great War.
—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Rodent infestation and mold are among the many problems besetting the 19th-century estate.
—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
26 June 2026
Both mother and daughter reflect on the troubles besetting their own family, as the mother tries to write a novel.
—
Michael Schaub,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
The Leafs needed an NHL player with injuries besetting their blue line.
—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
To his sons, however, the Party offers meaning and purpose—a powerful countervailing force to the lack of prospects besetting their generation, which had been decimated by the Great War.
—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besetting
Adjective
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However, popular culture can’t fully explain why summer camps hold such a nostalgic and almost obsessive place in the nation’s collective consciousness.
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Lestat’s mother, Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle), now a vampire, too, resented Nicky’s physical and mental weakness, and Lestat found himself in a twisted love triangle with the obsessive Armand and the increasingly unwell Nicky.
Verb
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Different aspects can make downtowns undesirable and several issues have been plaguing cities on both sides of the Atlantic recently.
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For one, the blue material likely has no direct relation to the large algal blooms that are also plaguing the monument, according to Tim Auerhahn, chairman of the Aquatic Council.
Verb
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He is accused of attacking a 27-year-old man with a beer mug inside the Hula Bar on Saturday night.
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Liv Morgan controversially interrupted Iyo Sky's coronation, attacking her and forcing a tap-out.
Adjective
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July 3 could bring shocks or surprises; just beware of being too risky or impulsive.
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Seems impulsive … Carter wants to be a cop?
Verb
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Cholera, a waterborne bacterial disease, has unleashed a perilous wave across southern Africa, with active outbreaks currently afflicting five countries in southern and central Africa.
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Never mind the economic turbulence afflicting the country and the world, driven most recently by rising gas prices because of the war in Iran.
Verb
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In 2017 and 2018, Werhan was arrested on separate occasions in Pittsfield, Massachusetts for allegedly assaulting his father and girlfriend, according to the warrant affidavit.
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Weinstein was originally convicted of assaulting both Mann and Haley in 2020, but that verdict was overturned on a 4-3 vote by the state’s highest court in 2024.
Verb
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Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
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Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
Verb
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Want to stop raiding the fridge every night before bed?
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While our dreams of raiding Tay Tay’s closet will likely never come true, that won’t stop of from borrowing her style and shopping Swift’s favorite designer brands.
Cite this Entry
“Besetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besetting. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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