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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of beset
The 45-mile Delta Conveyance tunnel, which would funnel water via the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to farms and cities in Southern California, has been beset by delays due to litigation over environmental concerns and other regulatory challenges.
—
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026
May is the month when tiny seeds sprout and the wonders of the natural world, beset by our wintertime images of national fright and ominous threats, permits us to see a hopeful future.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
By the late 1990s, however, the Fujimori government was increasingly beset by corruption allegations and human rights scandals, including scrutiny over the financing of Keiko’s education abroad.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May 2026
Oaklawn Park was beset by rough weather this winter, the Martha Washington was postponed a week, and Counting Stars, along with many others, lost training time because of track conditions.
—Teresa Genaro, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beset
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026
May is the month when tiny seeds sprout and the wonders of the natural world, beset by our wintertime images of national fright and ominous threats, permits us to see a hopeful future.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
By the late 1990s, however, the Fujimori government was increasingly beset by corruption allegations and human rights scandals, including scrutiny over the financing of Keiko’s education abroad.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May 2026
Oaklawn Park was beset by rough weather this winter, the Martha Washington was postponed a week, and Counting Stars, along with many others, lost training time because of track conditions.
—Teresa Genaro, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for beset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beset
Verb
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Anti-gang units, officials say, form the backbone of the department’s crime fighting efforts in neighborhoods plagued by gang violence.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Orlando trailed Miami 3-0 early, plagued by the same defensive lapses that have defined its season so far.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, supporters insist their goal is not to attack a student, but to defend women’s sports.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Both sides accuse the other of intentionally attacking civilian targets.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Roma have not had a regular goalscorer since Tammy Abraham’s knee injury in 2023 and even then, the Englishman was afflicted by second-season syndrome.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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Daniel de Visé Fourteen Spanish citizens who were on the cruise ship afflicted with a hantavirus outbreak have arrived home in Spain.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Over the last four months, Burke has been arrested four times for crimes ranging from petit larceny to burglary to assault.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
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Later Thursday evening, also near Lake Merritt, police said a person suspected of arson resisted arrest and assaulted another officer, sending that officer to the hospital.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Other human rights lawyers have been recently prosecuted in Russia, including Maria Bontsler, a prominent lawyer who defended individuals persecuted by politically motivated charges.—
Irwin Cotler,
Time,
8 May 2026
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Individuals with Jewish heritage through their father or a grandparent sometimes identified as Jewish or were persecuted for their Jewish heritage, as was the case under the Nazi regime.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The action came three months after French law enforcement authorities raided X’s Paris office and summoned Musk for questioning.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
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The Upper East Side townhouse had been raided by the FBI two years earlier.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The Liberty sought a repeat victory in 2025 but was besieged by injuries and ultimately lost in the playoffs to the Mercury; Jones, the 2024 WNBA Finals MVP, injured her ankle and missed numerous games, while guard/forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton suffered a knee injury.—
Yohana Desta,
Vanity Fair,
7 May 2026
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In a similar vein, the Business section featured an article on our inequitable national tax structure, which enables the wealthy to grow their wealth while most people, besieged by income taxes and rising property taxes, struggle.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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He is accused of storming a security checkpoint at the dinner last month, leading to multiple shots being fired before he was apprehended.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
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Activists said Israeli forces stormed their vessels, smashed engines and detained some of those aboard.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beset. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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