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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2
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
a family besieged by worries about the faltering economy
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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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Examples of besiege in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the retreat is anything but peaceful, as the place is soon besieged by a plague of mice.
—
Sophia Nguyen, Washington Post, 30 July 2024
In Paris, French spectators besieged the young swimming idol, yet Weissmuller seemed immune to pressure.
—David O. Stewart, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2024
Finally, the United States should focus its support for democracy on the health of existing open societies and offering lifelines to besieged civil society groups around the world.
—Ben Rhodes, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
The Westwood campus was particularly besieged with clashes after pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment on the Royce Quad on April 25 and pro-Israel supporters staged their own large rally a few days later.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for besiege 
Sophia Nguyen, Washington Post, 30 July 2024
In Paris, French spectators besieged the young swimming idol, yet Weissmuller seemed immune to pressure.
—David O. Stewart, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2024
Finally, the United States should focus its support for democracy on the health of existing open societies and offering lifelines to besieged civil society groups around the world.
—Ben Rhodes, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
The Westwood campus was particularly besieged with clashes after pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment on the Royce Quad on April 25 and pro-Israel supporters staged their own large rally a few days later.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for besiege
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'besiege.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 13 Sep. 2024.
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