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

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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

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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 That project was beset by controversies and setbacks, including Essar Steel Minnesota filing for bankruptcy in 2016. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026 And a joint Boeing-NASA team has addressed the issues that beset CFT, agency officials told us today. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026 Osbourne, who was beset by medical issues in the years, months, and even days leading up to the farewell show, performed while seated in a throne. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026 It's already beset by an energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran. — Edna Tarigan, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 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
  • Speculation and conspiracy theories have plagued Kirk’s death, fueled even by public figures such as Candace Owens, a longtime friend of Kirk, who has been outspoken about her belief that his death was orchestrated in an elaborate plot.
    — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Hoover’s replacement has thus far been a miss, and the problem that plagued this program in losses in each of the last two years has not changed.
    — Mac Engel October 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • Talarico has attacked Ken Paxton over his long list of scandals in several campaign ads.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Saudi authorities later said King Fahd International Airport in Dammam also had been attacked, with few details.
    — SAMY MAGDY, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Verb
  • Love contains the seeds of its own destruction—the cruelty and self-absorption that turns the afflicted against one another, and themselves.
    — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Engineers have also taken steps to ensure that a CFT-like thruster anomaly doesn't afflict future Starliner flights.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of afflict
Verb
  • The men talked about who would assault the woman beforehand, took photos and recorded the assault, which was also seen on a security system feed at the home in Sullivan's Island, an affluent suburb of Charleston, state agents said.
    — MEG KINNARD, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • An assistant football coach at a Detroit high school faces assault with intent to murder, home invasion and related charges in a shooting that injured a 7-year-old child and her mother.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of assault
Verb
  • Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.
    — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • In January, the FBI raided a Post reporter’s home, as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of mishandling sensitive national security information.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Authorities on Wednesday raided the headquarters of one of Turkey ’s few broadcasters not aligned with the government, and appointed a trustee manager to oversee the popular news channel as part of an investigation into alleged corruption.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of raid
Verb
  • The Houthis also made important gains inland, all but besieging the strategic city of Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, in a move that augured more Houthi advances.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • States will assert ownership of fishing grounds, tamper with undersea cables, and, potentially, conquer or besiege islands.
    — Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of besiege
Verb
  • The next day, the Colombian Army stormed the Palace and retook it, resulting in the deaths and disappearances of at least 94 people, including justices, guerrilla members, civilians and military personnel.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The two businesses, collectively known as CTU, recruited the Colombian commandos who were supposed guarding Sanon in Haiti but later stormed Moïse’s hillside residence above Port-au-Prince in the middle of the night.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of storm

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Cite this Entry

“Beset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beset. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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