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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Recent Examples of besiege
The monument marks the scuttling of the Russians ships in 1854 to protect the harbor from Allied troops (United Kingdom, French and Italy's Piedmontese) that landed in the Crimea and besieged Sevastopol during the Crimean War.
—
Scott Neuman, NPR, 30 Apr. 2025
When Colorado was besieged by injuries or poor goaltending earlier this season, there were nights when a B or B-minus performance was going to be a loss, even against teams that aren’t very good.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 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, 18 Apr. 2025
The attack prompted many Americans to vent their dislike of the nation’s for-profit health system, and made Mr. Mangione a visible foil for an administration that says radicals are besieging the nation.
—Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Scott Neuman, NPR, 30 Apr. 2025
When Colorado was besieged by injuries or poor goaltending earlier this season, there were nights when a B or B-minus performance was going to be a loss, even against teams that aren’t very good.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 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, 18 Apr. 2025
The attack prompted many Americans to vent their dislike of the nation’s for-profit health system, and made Mr. Mangione a visible foil for an administration that says radicals are besieging the nation.
—Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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For example, if China can pin down the United States in the Taiwan Strait, Russia and Iran may seize the moment to attack their neighbors.—
Mark Melton,
National Review,
23 May 2025
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There are several leaf spotting diseases that can attack hydrangeas.—
Janet B. Carson,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
Verb
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To top it off, an air traffic control meltdown plagued Newark Liberty International Airport for weeks after staffing shortages and technology outages caused hours-long delays.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
23 May 2025
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But travel remains plagued by inefficiencies with disconnected booking systems, delays without real-time resolution and reliance on legacy infrastructure and software that slow rather than facilitate the journey.—
Omry Litvak,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Until her death at age 25, Emily would beg to be taken to the carousel at the mall near her home in Columbia, Maryland.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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But coming from the multiracial, multiethnic U.S., his background begged for further description.—
Rebecca R. Bibbs,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Verb
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In World War II, Russia relied on material support from the Allies and was largely blockaded within its Baltic Sea and Black Sea ports.—
Colin Flint,
The Conversation,
25 Mar. 2025
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Israel also has blockaded Gaza for the past six weeks, again barring the entry of food and other goods.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Recent research suggests that the global area afflicted by lethal heat waves would triple in size in coming decades even if global climate agreements — which President Trump exited on his first day in office — were kept.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
14 May 2025
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An estimated 75,000 people are afflicted with this disease in our country.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Other residents have petitioned against the ordinance because of the financial implications of not being able to rent their properties.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
21 May 2025
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More than 50 asset managers have petitioned the SEC for exemptive relief in order to offer an ETF share class of an existing mutual fund.—
Jesse Pound,
CNBC,
20 May 2025
Verb
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By Tuesday evening, the fire crew successfully encircled the entire perimeter of the fire in control lines.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
21 May 2025
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Howell got an earful before finally convincing a man to leave a campground almost encircled by the South Toe River.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Some of the journalists who were terminated on Thursday were from countries with repressive governments that persecute journalists for independent reporting, Mr. Abramowitz said in the email to employees on Thursday.—
Minho Kim,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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According to tradition, Peter traveled to Rome to spread the Christian message and was martyred there during the reign of the Emperor Nero, around 64 A.D., as Christians were being persecuted.—
Vanessa Gera,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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