1
as in blockading
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 plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
a family besieged by worries about the faltering economy
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3
as in petitioning
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 besieging
Boris Yeltsin, to everyone’s shock, had then walked through the crowd and climbed one of the Soviet tanks besieging him.
—
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
Israel tried to take over Gaza City before in this war, besieging it and launching raids in its streets, but tens of thousands of people remained.
—
Aya Batrawy,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
And while politicians know that there are costs to besieging an independent central bank – financial markets may react negatively or inflation may flare up – short-term control of a powerful policy tool can prove irresistible.
—
Ana Carolina Garriga,
The Conversation,
26 Aug. 2025
Also great for very, very expensively besieging castles.
—
Evan Ackermanerico Guizzo,
IEEE Spectrum,
29 Jan. 2016
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
Israel tried to take over Gaza City before in this war, besieging it and launching raids in its streets, but tens of thousands of people remained.
—
Aya Batrawy,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
And while politicians know that there are costs to besieging an independent central bank – financial markets may react negatively or inflation may flare up – short-term control of a powerful policy tool can prove irresistible.
—
Ana Carolina Garriga,
The Conversation,
26 Aug. 2025
Also great for very, very expensively besieging castles.
—
Evan Ackermanerico Guizzo,
IEEE Spectrum,
29 Jan. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besieging
Verb
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Iran had to shut in its own wells this month after the United States started blockading the strait.
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Britain responded with a war-footing, blockading the Bay of Naples.
Verb
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Different aspects can make downtowns undesirable and several issues have been plaguing cities on both sides of the Atlantic recently.
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For one, the blue material likely has no direct relation to the large algal blooms that are also plaguing the monument, according to Tim Auerhahn, chairman of the Aquatic Council.
Verb
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However, there's already a group petitioning against the idea of the mall becoming an industrial park.
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Stated differently, Sorsby petitioning the NFL doesn’t mean the NFL will grant the petition.
Verb
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He is accused of attacking a 27-year-old man with a beer mug inside the Hula Bar on Saturday night.
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Liv Morgan controversially interrupted Iyo Sky's coronation, attacking her and forcing a tap-out.
Verb
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Cholera, a waterborne bacterial disease, has unleashed a perilous wave across southern Africa, with active outbreaks currently afflicting five countries in southern and central Africa.
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Never mind the economic turbulence afflicting the country and the world, driven most recently by rising gas prices because of the war in Iran.
Verb
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As the cancerous mass that would ultimately kill him grew unchecked in his lungs, Terrence Wise desperately wrote message after message to the staff of the MDC Brooklyn federal jail, begging for medical help.
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Packing shoes that look cute but leave your feet begging for mercy by day two.
Verb
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Cheers roared from the crowd encircling the concrete arena as two skateboarders slammed into each other at top speed.
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Styled by Brad Goreski, Moore wore a custom cobalt blue Self Portrait gown with an oversized bow encircling the hips, falling into a train.
Verb
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Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
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Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
Cite this Entry
“Besieging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besieging. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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