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
The big picture: Hegseth has been besieged with scandals since his nomination was announced, though Republicans have largely rallied around him in recent weeks.
—
Axios, 20 Jan. 2025
The funeral meats were not yet cold when Mahler-Werfel began to be besieged by men who wished to take charge of her.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Thousands of structures have been damaged in the fires that have besieged Los Angeles.
—Maxwell Williams, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
Earlier this week, President Trump pardoned 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters who had besieged our nation’s capitol.
—Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Axios, 20 Jan. 2025
The funeral meats were not yet cold when Mahler-Werfel began to be besieged by men who wished to take charge of her.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Thousands of structures have been damaged in the fires that have besieged Los Angeles.
—Maxwell Williams, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
Earlier this week, President Trump pardoned 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters who had besieged our nation’s capitol.
—Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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The case, which generated headlines around the world, comes amid rising hostility against Muslims and Palestinians in the U.S. since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023.—
Sophia Tareen and Melissa Perez Winder,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
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Despite losing all three, there were significant improvements collectively and individually, with contributions from attacking starlets Nico Paz, who scored against Atalanta, and Diao, who got the equaliser against Juventus.—
David Ferrini,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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As the title hints, the relationship was plagued with disagreements, and the artist soon abandoned her original idea for a collaboration with the organization.—
Fabiola Iza,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
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How to tackle money problems right now Besides taxes, inflation is plaguing Americans' money worries.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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My agent was the one who pretty much begged me to just go out and try it and audition.—
Katie Arnold-Ratliff,
Curbed,
27 Feb. 2025
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Cal Fire captain begged for mercy during slaying captured on video, officials say.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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If China blockades or invades Taiwan, the short-term economic disruptions to the United States and its allies would be large enough to rival the losses caused by a broad decoupling.—
Stephen G. Brooks,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Feb. 2025
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Some protesters have been blockading key roads in major cities, as well as occupying dozens of university facilities.—
ByNenad Jarić Daunhauer,
science.org,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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This, in turn, led to waves of protest and a series of arsons that afflicted 24 churches over the next two years.—
The Editors,
National Review,
28 Feb. 2025
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Egg prices have jumped to all-time highs due in part to an outbreak of avian flu, or bird flu, that has been afflicting egg-laying hens in the US since 2022.—
Jennifer Hauser,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Few medieval women had the chutzpah to petition a court for past dues, much less the pope’s.—
Joelle Rollo-Koster,
The Conversation,
25 Feb. 2025
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Fortunately, some members of Congress petitioned Energy Secretary Chris Wright to rehire the workers, and most were reinstated once they could be found, despite having had their telephones cut off.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Other ska-adjacent U.K. bands—Madness, the Beat, the Selecter—made a beeline for 2 Tone, and the reverberations would eventually encircle the globe.—
Ian Penman,
Harper's Magazine,
19 Feb. 2025
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Although dark, thick liner encircled her lash line, her lipstick was a more muted, peach-toned nude.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Rwanda has claimed the Tutsis are being persecuted by Hutus and former militias responsible for the 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and others in Rwanda.—
CHINEDU ASADU,
arkansasonline.com,
17 Feb. 2025
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Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the U.S. government persecuted people of being communists.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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