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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
-
March 2026 Prose's debut novel is centered around Molly Gray, a 25-year-old maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, a five-star boutique hotel, who has an obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette.—
Angeline Jane Bernabe,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Hjorth’s protagonists also turn that obsessive attention outward—to try to understand others.—
Honor Jones,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The low-pitch frustration and helplessness plaguing Ann give Constance Zimmer good material to work with.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
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Microsoft, down 15% this year, is the largest stock swept up in the broader sell-off plaguing the software sector.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The remark, which spread quickly across news and social media, implied that Israel pushed the US into attacking.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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On Thursday, Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking it with drones — though Tehran denied that.—
Jon Gambrell,
Twin Cities,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The dispensing of moral instruction is an often tiresome staple of child-friendly animation, but the lessons that Mabel must learn—to be less impulsive, less strident, and more willing to see the good in others—also turn out to be shrewd organizational and negotiating tactics.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
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The impulsive reaction to this data is a trap.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The statement did not include what skin condition requiring a prescription is afflicting Trump, but causes could include eczema, an allergic reaction caused by food or medication, shingles and others.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
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The lawsuit has exposed alleged financial woes — including past-due tax returns — afflicting Martinez’s numerous businesses.—
Patrick Danner,
San Antonio Express-News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In addition to headphones, that section also includes other more serious offenses, including assaulting crew or smoking on the plane.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
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Some, like Zdorovetskiy, have been accused of assaulting and humiliating their targets as viewers push for violence.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But so often left unsaid by Gu are the moral ambiguities that come with choosing to represent a country that has been heavily criticized by Human Rights Watch, among other watchdog groups, for denying rights of freedom of expression and for persecuting government critics.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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Troops are occupying our cities and persecuting our people.—
Maria Guinnip,
Oklahoman,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The emerging city also became home to Sobaipuri people, an O'odham band who fled Apache raiding in their San Pedro Valley home.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
27 Feb. 2026
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The former prince is still under investigation, and with police raiding his homes and offices, there’s still a lot that could come out.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Besetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besetting. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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