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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This comes at a time when existential fiscal anxiety has been plaguing Americans.
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The other factor that Mercedes needs to consider is that reliability issue that’s plaguing itself and its customer teams.
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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Electing to keep his No 5 on the field, the Brazil head coach made a subtle tactical tweak that saw Endrick enter the action and brought Matheus Cunha further to the left flank — which unlocked the attacking prowess of Vinicius Junior.
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In patients with type 1 diabetes, the immune system starts attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
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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Its dressing—creamy from mayonnaise, subtly sweet from a touch of sugar—is begging for the pickle's salty acidity.
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The 2026 Toyota Crown is a tame but stylish family car, neither begging you to go off-road or to step on it around country mountains, but instead being an all-around great hauler with the quality Toyota’s known for.
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 7 Jul. 2026.
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