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
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of besetting
Michael Schaub, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
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
Verb
Both mother and daughter reflect on the troubles besetting their own family, as the mother tries to write a novel.
—Michael Schaub, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
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
-
Gene Hackman — who developed new shades of menace and gravitas with each passing year — turns in a career-best performance as the determined and obsessive Det.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
-
The obsessive insect scientist spent entirely too much of his career and a not-insignificant amount of taxpayer money watching screwworms doing the wild thing.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Overall, the vibes at SGF 2026 were markedly up compared to those from last year and 2024, when layoffs plaguing the industry and multiple game cancellations and releases were the main topics of conversation.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
11 June 2026
-
Mass tourism, rising sea levels, and scorching temperatures have been plaguing the unique Italian city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
After the good Samaritan got him off the woman, witnesses say the man wandered to produce and began attacking a 16-year-old boy, but Garbe had followed him.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
After coming close on numerous attacking opportunities in the first, the Real Madrid star put England ahead for the good in the opening moments of the second.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Kat makes the impulsive decision to marry Charlie, who agrees to remain in the relationship for a few months for the positive press.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
-
The criteria include frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, having unstable relationships, identity disturbance, impulsive behavior, chronic feelings of emptiness, intense anger, emotional instability, paranoia or dissociation under stress, and recurrent suicidal behavior or self-harm.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Cholera, a waterborne bacterial disease, has unleashed a perilous wave across southern Africa, with active outbreaks currently afflicting five countries in southern and central Africa.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Never mind the economic turbulence afflicting the country and the world, driven most recently by rising gas prices because of the war in Iran.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Previously, Jackman had been convicted of a series of rapes in California, assaulting 20 people in Orange County in 1975 and 1976.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
Police accused the singer of assaulting the officers who were trying to take him into custody.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Want to stop raiding the fridge every night before bed?—
Dr. Deepika Chopra,
Flow Space,
16 June 2026
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While our dreams of raiding Tay Tay’s closet will likely never come true, that won’t stop of from borrowing her style and shopping Swift’s favorite designer brands.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Besetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besetting. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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