BESETS Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

besets

verb

present tense third-person singular of beset

as in plagues

to cause persistent suffering to he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life

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as in attacks

to take sudden, violent action against the unsuspecting tourists were suddenly beset by robbers

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for besets

Verb

Yet the monopolisation that plagues other top tiers, while not as stark in England, is creeping in.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Too often, this means taxpayer dollars are fueling the very gun violence that plagues neighborhoods and communities nationwide.

— Kris Brown, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of plagues

Verb

Researchers estimate that postpartum psychosis — which is more serious and less common than postpartum depression — afflicts 1 to 2 per 1,000 women after delivery.

— Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
That means protections for those who have been vaccinated will weaken and wane as the disease afflicts those who haven’t, threatening public health as a whole.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of afflicts

Verb

Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

— Christina Fan, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026

Definition of assaults

Verb

China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.

— Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

Definition of persecutes

Verb

In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.

— Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 June 2026

Definition of raids

Verb

Mars storms the Official Streaming chart with five titles, while one of his most successful collaborations becomes a bestseller again on multiple rosters.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Although significant, that event was far less powerful than the Carrington Event — or the even rarer storms the new study suggests may be possible.

— Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of storms

Verb

So, in order to make an extreme contact point work, the batter has to be able to discern balls and strikes really well.

— Eno Sarris, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
The virus also causes a rare but fatal neurological condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which typically strikes years after a child seemingly recovers from the infection.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of strikes

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beset

besets

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“Besets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besets. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of besets

verb

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