1
as in to attack
to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication
armies besieged the city for six months before it finally surrendered
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
a family besieged by worries about the faltering economy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to beg
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner
bereaved parents continued to besiege the president with pleas to end the war
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of besiege
Pirro pushed back and went on to reiterate the Administration’s support for the deployments, characterizing the city as besieged by violent crime.
—
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2025
Vikings quarterbacks have been besieged by injury this year.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
The past four months have seen Kristen Cline besieged with worry about the son who went missing in Phoenix just as his life was pivoting for the better with a baby on the way.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 13 Nov. 2025
That's the capital of North Darfur that was besieged for 500 days.
—ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2025
Vikings quarterbacks have been besieged by injury this year.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
The past four months have seen Kristen Cline besieged with worry about the son who went missing in Phoenix just as his life was pivoting for the better with a baby on the way.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 13 Nov. 2025
That's the capital of North Darfur that was besieged for 500 days.
—ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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Two people came out of a nearby apartment and attacked the agent with a snow shovel and broom handle, federal authorities say.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
16 Jan. 2026
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The outlet also said that Rezaei maintained that Iran would abandon any notion of a ceasefire if attacked.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Lingering odors, discoloration, stains, and bacterial growth are issues that plague older bath towels; snagging a new set will make your bathroom look and smell better.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
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Kubasik sees this as the first step toward shaking up an industry long plagued by oligopolistic hangovers and kicking off a new wave of dealmaking.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As a kid in Rochester, New York, Kane begged his parents for a dollar to play.—
Anna Rahmanan,
thehustle.co,
9 Jan. 2026
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While eating at the restaurant with her parents, Black begged for her own tasty drink and the bartender whipped one up, naming it after her.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Witnesses report that other vehicles besides Good's were blockading unmarked immigration agent vehicles with their emergency LED lights activated.—
Dana Kelley,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
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At first, Israel blockaded Gaza entirely, against the United States’ wishes.—
Andrew P. Miller,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Surrounding trees, however, were not afflicted.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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Support for Bass is more mixed, with her current record containing many more failures than have afflicted either Lurie or any other recent Los Angeles mayor.—
Thomas D. Elias,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Now, if the bakery does not agree to voluntarily recognize the union, Breaking Breads can petition the National Labor Relations Board for an election to be legally recognized.—
Jackie Hajdenberg,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2026
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California Senate Bill 9, which took effect in 2013, allowed juvenile offenders serving life without parole to petition to have their sentences recalled and to be resentenced.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some thought the mystery bore a direct relation to the green tangle that tightly encircled the two dozen shacks balanced precariously between the rain forest and the yellowish waters.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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While encircled outside his locker Saturday, disappointed in the result but proud of his team’s effort, Coker answered questions about his career game.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Open Doors is a global Christian charity supporting Christians persecuted for their faith.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
28 Dec. 2025
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Most commonly, people felt they were being persecuted via their electronics – that their Wi-Fi networks, computers or cellphones had been hacked or implanted with tracking devices.—
Alaina Vandervoort Burns,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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