beset

verb

be·​set bi-ˈset 

bē-

beset; besetting

transitive verb

1

: to set or stud with or as if with ornaments

a crown beset with rubies

… leaves, whose edges were beset with thorns …

—J. G. Frazer

2

: trouble, harass

inflation besets the economy

3

a

: to set upon : assail

the explorers were beset by wolves

b

: to hem in : surround

a town beset with high mountains

besetment

bi-ˈset-mənt 

bē-

noun

Synonyms

• afflict
• agonize
• anguish
• bedevil
• besiege
• curse
• excruciate
• harrow
• persecute
• plague
• rack
• torment
• torture

Examples of beset in a Sentence

A lack of money is the greatest problem besetting the city today.

he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life

Recent Examples on the Web

However, she has already been beset by problems including around a New York fashion brand with the same name and suggestions the logo is similar to a coat of arms for a Spanish town. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025

The changes will radically overhaul domestic production, giving a dramatic boost to a TV industry struggling to stay afloat, with the Czech public broadcaster beset by financial woes and global streaming platforms sluggish to enter the local market. —Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025

The surge is supplementing an unreliable grid beset by aging infrastructure and a fuel shortage. —Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2025

But building cheaply in a world beset by disasters means building things to fail. —Alice Hill, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English besetten, from Old English besettan, from be- + settan to set

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for beset

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette
• cadet

Kids Definition

beset

verb

be·​set bi-ˈset 

beset; besetting

1

: to trouble with problems

2

: to set upon : assail