as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
that woman's besetting need to meddle in the affairs of others
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacking
to take sudden, violent action against
the unsuspecting tourists were suddenly beset by robbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of besetting
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
To his sons, however, the Party offers meaning and purpose—a powerful countervailing force to the lack of prospects besetting their generation, which had been decimated by the Great War.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Leafs needed an NHL player with injuries besetting their blue line.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
To his sons, however, the Party offers meaning and purpose—a powerful countervailing force to the lack of prospects besetting their generation, which had been decimated by the Great War.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besetting
Adjective
-
But a mature, obsessive work ethic turns his big ideas into big jumps and one-of-a-kind routines.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
-
After a few days of running in Burrito League, even a seemingly normal person can become transformed into an obsessive and committed ultrarunner, Coury said.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Kid Rock gave an impassioned testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee earlier today, addressing the ongoing issues plaguing the ticketing industry and the unfair practices employed at the expense of both artists and fans.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
-
China, a massive figure in the luxury industry, seems to be on the luxury rebound; weakened demand in the country had previously been a driver for the slowdown plaguing the high-end realm over the last few years.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The president also shared clips of the video on his Truth Social handle, along with posts mocking and attacking Pretti.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Stay focused on the issue, rather than attacking the other person’s character.—
Molly Burrets,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The challenge is resisting impulsive decisions driven by anxiety.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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Anyone who has made an impulsive decision in a moment of intense emotion knows that feelings shape our choices just as much as rational thought.—
Jasna Hodžić,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the overlap with unusually frigid temperatures afflicting Florida's Space Coast and the rest of the country have turned Crew-12's launch opportunities into an intricate dance around Artemis 2.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Their bread-and-butter is comforting the most comfortable by afflicting the most afflicted.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In August, Richardson was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, fellow American sprinter Christian Coleman, at the Seattle Tacoma Airport.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Homan said there will be zero tolerance for interfering, impeding or assaulting officers.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has repeatedly alleged that the South African government is actively persecuting white citizens, particularly farmers.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
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The former human-rights lawyer entered on a tourist visa and filed for political asylum in October of that year, claiming the governments that succeeded Correa were persecuting him.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Masked federal agents are detaining citizens without cause and raiding Americans’ homes without a judge’s warrant.—
Lautaro Grinspan,
AJC.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Democrats want more sweeping reforms to reign in the tactics, such as prohibiting ICE from deploying excessive force and explicitly preventing them from raiding places of worship, hospitals and schools.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Besetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besetting. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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