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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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
The operation goes awry when one of the Black Hawk helicopters is brought down and its crew, including Durant (Ron Eldard), killed or besieged.
—
David Faris, TheWeek, 24 Feb. 2026
Destruction in Mariupol At the start of the war, Russian forces besieged Mariupol before the port city fell in May 2022.
—Yuras Karmanau, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The Adams administration was besieged with corruption at every level—the Blackness of the perpetrators was of no solace.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Coach Kyle Shanahan’s ninth season, besieged by injuries to star players, ended with a wild-card win at defending champion Philadelphia before a 41-6 suffocation in Seattle.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for besiege
David Faris, TheWeek, 24 Feb. 2026
Destruction in Mariupol At the start of the war, Russian forces besieged Mariupol before the port city fell in May 2022.
—Yuras Karmanau, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The Adams administration was besieged with corruption at every level—the Blackness of the perpetrators was of no solace.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Coach Kyle Shanahan’s ninth season, besieged by injuries to star players, ended with a wild-card win at defending champion Philadelphia before a 41-6 suffocation in Seattle.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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The American always had the engine and work rate to flit between defensive and attacking duties in a central midfield berth.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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Santos and Langdon both attack things pretty head on.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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She was plagued with all manner of rashes, sores, and ulcers.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
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But the disapproval persists across the political spectrum over moves against Russia's second-most popular messaging app, adding to frustrations over a growing list of various issues that plague the country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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John packs a bag and decides to go to a hotel for a couple of days, though Carolyn begs him not to leave.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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The managers of Radio City Music Hall begged NBC to move Your Show of Shows to Thursdays.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tehran has been effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of global oil supply flows, since the start of US-Israeli attacks on Iran.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
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Experts say blockading Iran’s oil exports is an option that would open the strait faster.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The disease afflicted homosexuals, Haitians, haemophiliacs and heroin addicts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
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The Warriors are now 5-11 without Steph Curry, who sat courtside while afflicted with runner’s knee, and losers of four in a row.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The organization in October 2025 petitioned the board and president of the Biennale to exclude the country, after the Israeli Ministry of Culture issued an open call for artists and curators to represent it.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
18 Mar. 2026
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About six months ago, my friend Gerry Goldberg and I co-founded the Andie’s Light campaign, petitioning the city councils of Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village for a traffic light at Belleview Avenue and Franklin Street.—
Jerry Presley,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The rooms Spread over a handful of buildings encircling the central courtyard, Aleenta Retreat's 44 rooms range from spacious deluxe rooms with lounge-y balconies to two-story residences with two bedrooms and a small private courtyard with a plunge pool.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
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The cuff needs to encircle your upper arm to get a good reading.—
Mara Gordon,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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An immigration judge has previously found that she would be persecuted by the Israeli government if she was removed there.—
Kristie Keleshian,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Some had been granted the opportunity to stay after proving to immigration judges that they would probably be persecuted if returned to their homeland.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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