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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Recent Examples of besiege
Bay Area content creator Kane Parsons pushes back on conventional storytelling, and his hypnotic approach results in one of 2026’s most exhilarating debuts, a existential head trip that GoPros us into a human subconscious besieged by misshapen memories that trap and hold you hostage.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Over the years, we were constantly besieged with inquiries.
—Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
His most recent drama, Evil Does Not Exist, examined the natural world as besieged by modern industry.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The Liberty sought a repeat victory in 2025 but was besieged by injuries and ultimately lost in the playoffs to the Mercury; Jones, the 2024 WNBA Finals MVP, injured her ankle and missed numerous games, while guard/forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton suffered a knee injury.
—Yohana Desta, Vanity Fair, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Over the years, we were constantly besieged with inquiries.
—Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
His most recent drama, Evil Does Not Exist, examined the natural world as besieged by modern industry.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The Liberty sought a repeat victory in 2025 but was besieged by injuries and ultimately lost in the playoffs to the Mercury; Jones, the 2024 WNBA Finals MVP, injured her ankle and missed numerous games, while guard/forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton suffered a knee injury.
—Yohana Desta, Vanity Fair, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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Rather than attacking all rapidly growing cells, as chemotherapy does, the drug targets a key cancer-driving pathway known as KRAS, which is involved in more than 90% of pancreatic tumors.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
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Akindahunsi is accused of attacking several women the night of May 28.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Yet that weariness doesn’t plague the music itself.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2026
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President Joe Biden's legacy is plagued by communication issues.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Verb
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What made Grande stick out back then was a limber voice that begged to be dressed in sounds that swing.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
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In a story this complicated, where everyone from a little girl to a grown man from Boston is begging for their humanity, even Howard Stevens deserves some, too.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Iran had to shut in its own wells this month after the United States started blockading the strait.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
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Demonstrators wielding dynamite have blockaded major cities, leading to shortages of food, fuel and medical supplies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Losses from cattle afflicted by the parasite could run into the billions of dollars, with larger effects across the American economy, according to USDA estimates.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
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The incursion was the latest in a litany of drone incidents — from both Russia and Ukraine — to afflict NATO member states and leave the 32-member trans-Atlantic organization on edge, drawing strong condemnation from Romania’s allies.—
Stephen McGrath,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Paramount has petitioned the FCC to sign off on the foreign investment, as any foreign ownership stake above 25% requires agency approval.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
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In 2024, Roan petitioned to change his surname to honor both his parents.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Just under 300,000 years from the moment Homo sapiens appeared in Africa, the species had encircled Earth, mastering desolate deserts and frozen wastelands and all the temperate climes in between.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
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Ten standalone spa villas (five for couples and five for singles) encircle a pool reserved only for spa guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The Lieser family of Jewish industrialists was persecuted by the Nazis, including being imprisoned, and lost almost all their possessions to Nazi seizure.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
5 June 2026
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Family members and friends were persecuted, arrested, and killed.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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