besets

verb

present tense third-person singular of beset
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

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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
  1. plagues
  2. attacks
  3. afflicts
  4. assaults
  5. persecutes
  6. raids
  7. storms
  8. strikes
Verb
  • The depression that plagues him in winters is nowhere to be found.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of plagues
Verb
  • At the same time, in the real world, Lisa wakes up and attacks Thomas and Paladin, using her new, uh, nanobot powers?
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic (long-term) autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks healthy tissues, causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
    — Health Editorial Team, HEALTH, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of attacks
Verb
  • Today, Alzheimer’s afflicts roughly one in nine Americans over sixty-five and, along with related dementias, has been estimated to cost the economy about three-quarters of a trillion dollars a year.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The uncertainty that afflicts others about how to dress for one’s age, one’s job or even the weather doesn’t seem to unsettle this cohort.
    — The Learning Network, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of afflicts
Verb
  • Chris Brown physically assaults then-girlfriend Rihanna Brown and then-girlfriend Rihanna had an argument that escalated into physical violence on the part of Brown.
    — Alex Heigl, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
    — Christina Fan, CBS News, 7 June 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
  • The puppeteering incenses Morgan, who storms into Cathcarts to demand his lawyers quit playing games and get on with litigation already.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Saturday, the system sent a long band of powerful thunder storms up the center of Georgia.
    — Bill Chappell, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of storms
Verb
  • Antarctica Silversea’s first ship reimagined for polar pursuits, Silver Cloud strikes a commendable balance between expedition thrills and luxury amenities.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Then, Showalter drops from a standing position and strikes Hardy in the head and neck area with his knee.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of strikes
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Besets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besets. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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