1
as in plagues
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
2
as in attacks
to take sudden, violent action against
the unsuspecting tourists were suddenly beset by robbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besets
Verb
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More bureaucracy — in the form of the new stand-alone Department of Gun Violence Reduction — while well-intentioned, isn’t the panacea to what plagues our city, especially as whoever is appointed head of this new department will enjoy too much independence from the mayor.
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Odd moment plagues fourth quarter As the Knicks held on to their fairly sizable lead, a fan ran onto the court, tried to take a selfie with Wembanyama but was quickly apprehended by security.
Verb
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Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Another device, called a 4-Poster bait station, attacks the ticks that congregate on deer’s heads.
Verb
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Advertisement Mission hijacking in the nonprofit space A similar overcrowding afflicts the pro-democracy space today.
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These men have arrived here on a wave of isolation that’s swept the country since the pandemic and afflicts boys and men of all ages.
Verb
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Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
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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.
Verb
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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.
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In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.
Verb
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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.
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In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.
Verb
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Sharon Stone storms the runway at the Vetements Spring Summer 2027 fashion show during Paris Men's Fashion Week on June 26.
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In a flashback to the Italian inn, Lestat storms in on Gabriella sleeping with a rando, having heard her through the walls.
Verb
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Tribunals have been appointed, and Coriolanus’ scornful elitism strikes them as too heavy a price for his military protection.
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Russia routinely strikes Ukrainian civilians, schools, churches, apartments and homes, power grids that light and heat them, ports, railways, airfields, and defense industry.
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Cite this Entry
“Besets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besets. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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