besieged

past tense of besiege
1
as in blockaded
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of besieged In recent months, Israeli settlers have repeatedly besieged the village of Qusra, defying orders from the authorities to leave the area and trying to force Palestinian families, some of whom are also American citizens, out. Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 There has been a spate of Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, and the village of Qusra has been besieged by Israeli settlers for weeks. F. Brinley Bruton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026 One of them, Muammar Ibrahim, reported for Al Jazeera’s Arabic network while the city was besieged. Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026 Indiana, besieged by injuries after reaching the 2025 NBA Finals, was 1-12 when Mathurin returned. William Guillory, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Saunders is one of the most senior Australian Catholics to be convicted in a global clergy abuse scandal that has besieged the Vatican for years. ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 The Pratts are in serious crisis, besieged by bullies and bad neighbors outside of their house and foundation-crumbling dysfunction inside it. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026 The staff means business, with the host stand besieged by walk-ins, take-out orders, and impatient guests waiting outside. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026 As a result, the federal court in South Florida has been besieged with habeas petitions. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besieged
Verb
  • During what became known as the Timber Wars of the late 1980s and 1990s, activists occupied giant redwoods, chained themselves to logging equipment and blockaded roads across California, Oregon and Washington.
    Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • France About 50 fishermen blockaded a major fuel depot in the coastal southern French town of Fos-sur-Mer on Tuesday, in part to protest rising fuel prices, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.
    Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • With local cops, plagued by rumors of departmental misdeeds, looking for a peaceful solution and federal authorities contemplating extreme action, the situation escalates.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
  • That gave North Crowley a 35-28 lead with 19 seconds remaining in the second quarter, despite a first half plagued with penalties.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • During Tuesday's press conference, Hochman revealed Nick's siblings have petitioned for the grand jury transcripts to be sealed.
    Lauryn Overhultz , Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Five members of the Buss family want to sell their remaining stake in the Lakers, but Lakers governor Jeanie Buss has petitioned a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to block the sale.
    Eric Nehm, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Six of the gunmen were killed, according to police, who said one suicide bomber attacked the nearby office of an intelligence agency.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • When a wealthy, royal woman is attacked by bandits, the two men save her and are welcomed to the castle as valiant knights.
    Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The afflicted can feel very strongly about them, strongly believe them, even though there is no convincing reason for holding that thought.
    Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • However, the network was afflicted with major issues in its first year, including executive turnover and poor ratings.
    Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Officers tried to move him to another cell, but the other men begged them not to, saying his song and prayer put their minds at ease.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
  • During a bizarre San Diego break-in, a golden retriever who lives at the home begged the prowler to play.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Manmade infrastructure on California’s coast has been battered and beleaguered in recent years — even without El Niño.
    Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In New Jersey — a state beleaguered by waste and high costs in its public health plans — teachers and other school workers face premium hikes of 34% next year.
    Bob Herman, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.
    Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Tates have denied all allegations and have claimed they are being persecuted for their views.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Besieged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besieged. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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