BESET Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

beset

verb

bi-ˈset

Definition of beset

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 In the days after 9/11, the fear of what might come next beset famously unflappable Gotham. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 Sally gets a burgeoning love story with investigator Gary Hallet (Aidan Quinn), but Gillian is beset by a love gone to rot with domestic violence. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 In August 2023, several UK airports and airlines were forced to cancel hundreds of departures and flight arrivals on the final day of the summer public holiday weekend after a major glitch beset NATS. — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026 Bailey also faces a Republican base beset by conspiracy theories and infighting over the party’s leadership, something that led Tracy to resign as state GOP chairman in June 2024 after three and a half years in the post. — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beset

Recent Examples of Synonyms for beset

Verb

Walker, who leads the NFL with 360 rushing yards, also is adept at avoiding an issue that plagues many ball carriers and receivers in the NFL.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
The report found that extreme overcrowding and abuse plagued the facilities.

— Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of plague

Verb

An official of Congo's ruling party UDPS, Marie-Célestin Karondwa, was attacked by unknown suspects Sunday for defending the government's measures against Ebola on a radio program and was in critical condition, according to the UDPS.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
Additionally, the agents were apparently not instructed to attack or compromise the UN website.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

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
While the epicenter was located in Nantou County in central Taiwan, serious damage afflicted residents across the island as roads buckled, bridges collapsed and landslides destroyed everything in their path.

— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of afflict

Verb

The woman, who was the only person found in the vehicle, had been assaulted by the shooting suspect, sheriff’s officials said, and the two men left the vehicle.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
No one in Cathy’s family seems to know she was assaulted, but for us, that information contextualizes her now-twisted understanding of her own looks and sexuality.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 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

Eleven current and former Ford Heights officials are facing 79 felony charges after investigators raided the Village Hall on Thursday to execute a search warrant.

— Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
In 2008 the government raided the FLDS’s Yearning for Zion compound near Eldorado, Texas.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of raid

Verb

In recent months, Israeli settlers have repeatedly besieged the village of Qusra, defying orders from the authorities to leave the area and trying to force Palestinian families, some of whom are also American citizens, out.

— Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
There has been a spate of Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, and the village of Qusra has been besieged by Israeli settlers for weeks.

— F. Brinley Bruton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of besiege

Verb

Georgia needed only 24 offensive plays to storm out to a 28-0 halftime lead as its defense forced and feasted on Oklahoma errors.

— Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Zverev served for the match in the second set but double-faulted to hand De Minaur a break and the Australian stormed back into it.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of storm

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“Beset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beset. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of beset

verb

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