1
as in encircles
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
2
as in persecutes
to cause persistent suffering to
a family besieged by worries about the faltering economy
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3
as in begs
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besieges
Verb
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The Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway is a looped route, one that meanders through the Chattahoochee National Forest and encircles the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025 -
Each element encircles a central void, which Robertson describes as symbolic thresholds–portals between identities, spaces, and ideas.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In between bickering with Rodgers and pining for a young would-be protégé named Elizabeth, played by Margaret Qualley, Hart gossips to the bartender—Eddie, portrayed by Bobby Cannavale—and begs him for just one more pour.—
Kyle McGovern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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The Babadook begs for a sequel, but director Jennifer Kent is mostly positive that won't happen.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Petro attacks Trump while protecting narcos and engaging in the drug business.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
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With Pervis Estupinan or Davide Bartesaghi holding width on the left and No 9 Santiago Gimenez dragging defenders away, Pulisic attacks the gap between centre-back and full-back, arriving in stride rather than starting wide.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When an unexpected event takes him back to his hometown, he is reunited with his mother and old friends but also confronted by the corruption that plagues his country, sparking a political awakening.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
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Chapman’s tenure at the SBC Executive Committee from 1992 to 2009 encountered similar economic and political headwinds that plagues the SBC today, yet many Southern Baptists remember that time for Chapman’s determination to push past those hurdles for the sake of growing local churches.—
Liam Adams,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Road blockades, traffic slowdowns and other protests were widespread – from the southern port city of Marseille to Lille and Caen in the north, and from Nantes and Rennes in the west to Grenoble and Lyon in the southeast.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Recent research finds a similar curse afflicts National Football League teams that compete to acquire one of the top picks in its annual draft of new players.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
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Motion sickness afflicts one in three adults and one in two children.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The district still puts on a Christmas program and observes a moment of silence to start the day, and the school board prays before meetings.—
Jennifer Smith Richards,
ProPublica,
22 Oct. 2025
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At one point, Gwen prays to Jesus for help, much to the bemusement (and adoration) of Ernesto.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The White House told ProPublica that anyone who assaults federal immigration agents would be prosecuted.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
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The Kid also physically assaults Apollonia at one point.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Besieges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besieges. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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