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
  • 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.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
Definition of plagues
Verb
  • After the match, David Finlay attacks White before the rest of the Bang Bang Gang runs down to make the save.
    — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Lawsuit attacks diversity efforts The lawsuit comes amid a broader crackdown on diversity initiatives nationwide as conservatives argue similar programs treat white people unfairly.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
Definition of attacks
Verb
  • Advertisement Mission hijacking in the nonprofit space A similar overcrowding afflicts the pro-democracy space today.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 27 June 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
  • 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
  • Sharon Stone storms the runway at the Vetements Spring Summer 2027 fashion show during Paris Men's Fashion Week on June 26.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of storms
Verb
  • John Waters strikes a pose at the 2026 Mosswood Meltdown in Oakland, California on July 19.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
  • The series of intimate dispatches was widely credited for its courage and also for raising awareness of the disease, which strikes men far less often than women.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 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 25 Jul. 2026.

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