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
Maria accepts the role; because of her age, Christine has to sign a waiver, and Maria is next seen witnessing a scrum of paparazzi besieging Marlon Brando (played by Matt Dillon) on location.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Well-wishers so besieged Moore that the actress had to be informed formally that the engraving process was complete.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
Even with these advances, however, there continue to rug-pulls, hacks, breaches, and other negative and unethical events besieging the sector.
—Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
In recent days, Tesla showrooms in the U.S. have been besieged by protesters and vehicles vandalized on the street.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Well-wishers so besieged Moore that the actress had to be informed formally that the engraving process was complete.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
Even with these advances, however, there continue to rug-pulls, hacks, breaches, and other negative and unethical events besieging the sector.
—Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
In recent days, Tesla showrooms in the U.S. have been besieged by protesters and vehicles vandalized on the street.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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Aged 30, Makelele had been converted from an attacking midfielder to a deep-lying, anchoring midfielder that would protect his back line and hoover up any defensive actions that came anywhere near his orbit.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
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The foods the cell is accustomed to may be absent; immune cells or other novel environmental molecules may attack.—
Amber Dance,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The firm works heavily with the community surrounding the market and carries a mission to identify and establish alternatives to the pitfalls plaguing fashion’s current business model including overproduction and greenwashing.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Apr. 2025
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The community support comes at an apartment complex that both residents say is plagued with drugs and violence.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After all those heartfelt letters, begging her nephew to return home, Cara finally comes face-to-face with Spencer.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Tactility is a prominent feature in the collection; the pieces almost beg to be touched.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Not including last year, students blockaded or occupied the university academic building again at least four more times since then, according to the university’s website.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2025
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The Confederate States, blockaded by Union forces, faced severe shortages of critical war materials, including gunpowder.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In the first trailer for Universal’s live-action reimagining of Dreamworks’ 2010 film How to Train Your Dragon, there’s no hint that the CGI is going in the gritty, overly lifelike direction that has afflicted other live-action remakes of years past.—
Michael Savio,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
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In a state and city so afflicted by the culture of corruption, as the Tribune reported exhaustively last year in a series of pieces tracing our sordid history, federal prosecutors have played an indispensable role in unearthing these stories and making our politicians pay for abusing their offices.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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How Did Natalia Grace Meet The Mans Family? Natalia’s birth records initially stated she was born in 2003, but two years after adopting her, the Barnetts petitioned a Marion County court to amend her Ukrainian documents, changing her birth year to 1989 and her age to 22.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Earlier this month, Skadden attorneys petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari on behalf of the NBA in a case involving the federal Video Privacy Protection Act.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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All of these stones were encircled in frames of gold.—
Rabbi Ashley Englander,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2025
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This piece shows what the brand does best with a clean and minimal typeface encircled by a bent plywood frame.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Roman authorities persecuted Christians harshly, subjecting them to torture and deaths even more gruesome than crucifixion.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
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The former president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and says he's being politically persecuted.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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