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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
a family besieged by worries about the faltering economy
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3
as in to beg
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner
bereaved parents continued to besiege the president with pleas to end the war
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Recent Examples of besiege
And while politicians know that there are costs to besieging an independent central bank – financial markets may react negatively or inflation may flare up – short-term control of a powerful policy tool can prove irresistible.
—
Ana Carolina Garriga, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
The attack prompted many Americans to vent their dislike of the nation’s for-profit health system, and made Mr. Mangione a visible foil for an administration that says radicals are besieging the nation.
—Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
If so, the president should look at the House members and senators seated before him tomorrow night who were besieged by constituents back home livid about the DOGE slashings.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2025
At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Ana Carolina Garriga, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
The attack prompted many Americans to vent their dislike of the nation’s for-profit health system, and made Mr. Mangione a visible foil for an administration that says radicals are besieging the nation.
—Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
If so, the president should look at the House members and senators seated before him tomorrow night who were besieged by constituents back home livid about the DOGE slashings.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2025
At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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May 8 India fires attack drones into Pakistan, killing at least two civilians, the Pakistani military says.—
Riazat Butt,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
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Trump acknowledged Democrats would attack Republicans for a tax hike, and that raising taxes was blamed for former President George H.W. Bush’s reelection loss in 1992.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
Verb
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The last five years have brought back weaknesses that plagued Kohli early in his career as a brash but fiercely talented batter.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
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Flanagan boys track coach Jessica Carter said the inclement weather which plagued the meet the entire weekend and forced the postponement of the 3A meet until Saturday posed problems for her boys team.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2025
Verb
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While Kardashian was begging for her life, the men rummaged through her belongings and stole roughly millions of dollars worth of jewelry from her.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
13 May 2025
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This begs the question: Why is the city of San Diego proposing a monthly fee of $47.59?—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 May 2025
Verb
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Israel also has blockaded Gaza for the past six weeks, again barring the entry of food and other goods.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Apr. 2025
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For six weeks Israel also has blockaded Gaza, barring the entry of food and other goods.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But in the midst of profound uncertainty and genuine pain and dislocation afflicting many, to convey confidence in addressing a highly volatile and fundamentally uncertain future would be inauthentic, and likely to be seen as such.—
Paul Laudicina,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Alhurra is subject to the same forces afflicting all TV networks, with audiences increasingly finding their news on TikTok and YouTube.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
Verb
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The League of Women Voters of California last week petitioned the court to intervene in opposition.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2025
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In 1910, the Lonoke Retail Merchants and Businessmen Association petitioned railroad executives to construct a new larger depot.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But there are also many places in the United States where cherry blossoms usher in the start of spring, including Washington, D.C., which hosts an annual National Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate the bloom of the nearly 4,000 trees planted in Potomac Park encircling the Tidal Basin.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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On March 20, Reuters reported, citing three U.S. and European officials with knowledge of the matter, that claims by President Donald Trump that Ukrainian troops were encircled in Kursk were incorrect.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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No truly advanced society persecutes animals for sport.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 May 2025
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During its reign of terror, the Ustaše regime persecuted and murdered hundreds of thousands of Serbs, Jews and Roma, as well as Croatians opposed to their rule.—
Larry Luxner,
Sun Sentinel,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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