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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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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Recent Examples of besiege
The Raptors coach said the team had hit a wall after a loss on the weekend — chalk it up to the on-court limitations of a team besieged by injuries and the frequent losing that has resulted.
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Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
His administration was also besieged with high levels of inflation and unemployment and a hostage crisis when militant college students overtook the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held the staff hostage.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Dec. 2024
Haftar fought that government in 2019-20 when his forces besieged and tried to seize the capital, only to be routed by a counteroffensive supported by Turkish drones.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
That facility, which the chief of the World Health Organization says still has 96 patients, remains besieged by Israeli forces operating in the area, and CNN reported that a hospital official said four doctors were among dozens killed around the compound on Friday.
—Juwayriah Wright, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for besiege 
Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
His administration was also besieged with high levels of inflation and unemployment and a hostage crisis when militant college students overtook the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held the staff hostage.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Dec. 2024
Haftar fought that government in 2019-20 when his forces besieged and tried to seize the capital, only to be routed by a counteroffensive supported by Turkish drones.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
That facility, which the chief of the World Health Organization says still has 96 patients, remains besieged by Israeli forces operating in the area, and CNN reported that a hospital official said four doctors were among dozens killed around the compound on Friday.
—Juwayriah Wright, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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Defensive vulnerabilities highlight areas on the field where offenses might be able to attack in the passing game.Joe Reedy, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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On screen, viewers witness Mormon soldiers disguised as Native Americans attacking a group of pioneers traveling westward.Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Bulls were plagued by injuries, mainly to Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine, and never finished better than sixth in the Eastern Conference with DeRozan in tow.Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 12 Jan. 2025
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Such reckless actions weaken U.S. foreign policy and show U.S. policymaking is plagued by short-sightedness and an absence of strategic empathy—causing grand delusions and great tragedies.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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There is a literal abundance of riches begging to be sipped.Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
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The teen lived long enough to call his father, begging for help in his final moments.John Annese, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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China practiced blockading Taiwan just last month by surrounding the island, which could, if executed in earnest, stop imports or exports from the country.Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
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For example, the drills highlight China’s preparations for blockading Taiwan, either as a stand-alone coercive measure or as a precursor to a full-scale invasion, experts say.Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Nursing homes, day cares and other places that serve people who may have weakened immune systems often use egg products for this reason. not be left out In recent years, another nasty bug has been afflicting poultry and, in turn, egg production.Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 10 Jan. 2025
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Still many have struggled with insurance coverage and storage efforts, with those working in these industries often personally afflicted themselves.Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Last month, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s lawyer, Aaron Siri, petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to revoke approval of the polio vaccine.Dr. Hannah Wunsch, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025
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In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday, Trump's attorneys demanded the report be blocked, while two former co-defendants petitioned U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to prevent the release of any report related to the Florida case.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The jersey features Team Vitality’s bee logo, placed within the Eiffel Tower and encircled by a globe–symbolizing the team’s Parisian origins, plus its wider fanbase around the world.Matt Gardner, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
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Steve Gosney, a Daytona Beach public defender, moved his family to Miami to start a job training new prosecutors and helping shore up some of the ethical issues that have encircled the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office this year.Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Charles also joined a Catholic congregation supporting a charity helping Christians persecuted across the Middle East and the globe.Simon Perry, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025
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Of course, traitors to the Empire were persecuted and executed too.Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 28 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near besiege
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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