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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
a family besieged by worries about the faltering economy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in petitioned
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 besieged
That's the capital of North Darfur that was besieged for 500 days.
—
ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
The San Francisco 49ers continue to be besieged by significant injuries for the second season in a row.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Earth itself is suddenly besieged by an alien invasion.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
For more than a year, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has besieged El Fasher, its final major barrier to controlling Darfur.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Made in Italy is besieged, and action must be taken to safeguard the local supply chain and its reputation.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Since its municipal establishment in 2018, Roku City has been a metropolis intermittently besieged by mythical creatures including a kraken, a big robot, and a Godzilla-like kaiju.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
She is besieged on all sides—by her in-laws, by social workers, by untreated psychosis—and yet in possession of a terrible freedom.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025
If your flower beds were besieged with pests or fungal diseases, the fallen leaf litter and stems from those plants should not be left in the garden.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
The San Francisco 49ers continue to be besieged by significant injuries for the second season in a row.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Earth itself is suddenly besieged by an alien invasion.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
For more than a year, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has besieged El Fasher, its final major barrier to controlling Darfur.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Made in Italy is besieged, and action must be taken to safeguard the local supply chain and its reputation.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Since its municipal establishment in 2018, Roku City has been a metropolis intermittently besieged by mythical creatures including a kraken, a big robot, and a Godzilla-like kaiju.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
She is besieged on all sides—by her in-laws, by social workers, by untreated psychosis—and yet in possession of a terrible freedom.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2025
If your flower beds were besieged with pests or fungal diseases, the fallen leaf litter and stems from those plants should not be left in the garden.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besieged
Verb
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At first, Israel blockaded Gaza entirely, against the United States’ wishes.—
Andrew P. Miller,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Dec. 2025
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In recent weeks, JNIM has effectively blockaded Bamako, targeting critical fuel convoys and supply lines.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But the hospital has been plagued by security issues in the last few years, and a contract dispute with the nurses’ union.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Commentary and opinions Tim Walz isn’t the only governor plagued by fraud.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Placer family court records show Dupree’s former fiancee in December 2021 petitioned and received a domestic violence restraining order against the former police officer.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
5 Jan. 2026
-
He was never charged and denied any wrongdoing, but LoPresto successfully petitioned to have his teaching license revoked.—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Crabtree stopped, turned, attacked the ball and snagged it.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Nelson claimed to police that the man attacked her and their son after opening the car door.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
In most cases, the faithful afflicted by the evil one need only a comfortable chair (better if equipped with armrests) to accompany the exorcistic celebration.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
On Monday, McGarva begged California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot to step in.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
During that time, students trapped inside called 911 and begged for help, investigators found.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Original concepts include mazes set in a demonic version of the Old West, a life-sized toybox full of twisted dolls and a frozen Northern town beleaguered by monsters.—
Julie Tremaine,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Open Doors is a global Christian charity supporting Christians persecuted for their faith.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
28 Dec. 2025
-
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
“Besieged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besieged. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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