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

Instead, in a near future that’s barely a stone’s throw from now, beset by many of our present predicaments and a sense of impending but not quite imminent apocalypse, his teenage heroes come of age as kids have always done. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 22 Sep. 2024

Efforts to recapture the nation’s economic momentum have generally failed and added to the debt overhang now besetting Chinese finance and economics. —Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

Colorado Rockies Part of baseball's 1993 expansion into Miami and Denver, the Rockies have been beset by difficulties from the team's inception. —David Faris, theweek, 5 Sep. 2024

The Starliner program suffered setbacks and delays all the way through Wilmore and Williams' trip to ISS, which was beset with technical issues. —Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 7 Aug. 2024

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

Kids Definition

beset

verb

be·​set bi-ˈset 

beset; besetting

1

: to trouble with problems

2

: to set upon : assail