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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of besiege
San Francisco’s Animal Care and Control was besieged with calls about the dangerous encounters with the problematic Crissy Field animal.
—
Heather Knight, New York Times, 19 May 2025
In its 18-month campaign in Gaza, Israel has stood out by carrying out an open campaign on hospitals, besieging and raiding them, some several times, as well as hitting multiple others in strikes while accusing Hamas of using them as cover for its fighters.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
The construction is about halfway complete, according to the former president's foundation, but it has been besieged by significant delays and has gone well over budget.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Ellie’s gets bitten After fleeing the TV station and killing two Wolves in a remixed turn of events, Ellie and Dina find themselves in a subway tunnel besieged by both WLF and infected.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Heather Knight, New York Times, 19 May 2025
In its 18-month campaign in Gaza, Israel has stood out by carrying out an open campaign on hospitals, besieging and raiding them, some several times, as well as hitting multiple others in strikes while accusing Hamas of using them as cover for its fighters.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
The construction is about halfway complete, according to the former president's foundation, but it has been besieged by significant delays and has gone well over budget.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Ellie’s gets bitten After fleeing the TV station and killing two Wolves in a remixed turn of events, Ellie and Dina find themselves in a subway tunnel besieged by both WLF and infected.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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President Donald Trump was the victim of two assassination attempts last year, and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, was attacked in their San Francisco home in 2022.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
16 June 2025
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Even after December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked some of the territories that McKinley had claimed—Hawaii, the Philippines, and Guam—people from Kansas or California didn’t necessarily see any reason to don uniforms.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Verb
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But visa issues may plague the lead-up to the event — and not just for athletes but the vast Olympics ecosystem, from coaches and families to sponsors and vendors to, of course, attendees.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
5 June 2025
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The wallet aims to solve cross-border payment challenges that have long plagued African creators.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Over the course of his prolific, three-decade career, the American filmmaker has established a signature aesthetic and working style that could convince any actor to beg him for a part — almost any actor.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
5 June 2025
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They’re eventually joined by DC Rose Dickson (Leah Byrne) who is tired of being confined to a desk after a personal meltdown two years prior and begs Morck for a spot on the cold cases team.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Small fragments of volcanic debris probably fell like rain through the opening during the first phases of the eruption, causing the four people inside the home to rush to the bedroom and blockade it with a bed to protect themselves.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
17 May 2025
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There have also been disputes between the U.S., Israel and Arab nations over how to administer humanitarian aid blockaded by Israel to Palestinians in Gaza.—
Benjamin Siegel,
ABC News,
12 May 2025
Verb
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Cabbages are afflicted by cabbage webworms, cabbage white moths, cabbage loopers, and other worms.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 June 2025
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When the antibody was injected into the retinas of mice afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa, the action of PROX1 was blocked, retinal regeneration was restored, and vision returned for a period of over six months.—
Michael Franco,
New Atlas,
11 June 2025
Verb
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This union action against the company comes about six months after the Editors Guild and the Writers Guild of America East jointly petitioned Story Syndicate to finalize a fair deal.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
6 June 2025
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Career federal employees like Pyatt are supposed to be able to petition for a transfer or receive preference in hiring at other agencies.—
J. David McSwane,
ProPublica,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Pochettino was asked multiple times about Pulisic’s interview, which added only another layer of drama to the narratives now encircling this team.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
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The pendant itself is an image of the Virgin Mary, encircled by a sunburst-like filigree frame.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Essence,
11 June 2025
Verb
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In 1968 a Jewish Dutch woman named Selma Vos was persecuted to death along with her husband, Cao Richang, an eminent psychologist who had helped found the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.—
Nan Z. Da
June 10,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2025
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Abrego Garcia was subject to a 2019 withholding order by a judge forbidding his removal to El Salvador because of concerns he would be persecuted there.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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