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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of besiege
Fittingly, the stage was besieged with red lights, and fire became part of the presentation.
—
Mark Gray, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024
The Los Angeles area is besieged by wildfires that have killed at least 10 people, destroyed thousands of structures and displaced more than 100,000 people.
—Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
California 5 dead, more than 1,100 structures destroyed as firestorm besieges L.A. County
16 minutes ago
After any natural disaster, horror stories invariably crop up about insurance companies skimping or dragging their feet on payments to vulnerable homeowners.
—Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Because in many parts of Ukraine, especially the Odesa region, once so popular with Russian vacationers and intellectuals, officials and regular citizens are trying to erase any trace of the influence of Russian history in a country besieged by the man in the Kremlin today, Vladimir Putin.
—Michael Robinson Chávez, NPR, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for besiege 
Mark Gray, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024
The Los Angeles area is besieged by wildfires that have killed at least 10 people, destroyed thousands of structures and displaced more than 100,000 people.
—Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
California 5 dead, more than 1,100 structures destroyed as firestorm besieges L.A. County
16 minutes ago
After any natural disaster, horror stories invariably crop up about insurance companies skimping or dragging their feet on payments to vulnerable homeowners.
—Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Because in many parts of Ukraine, especially the Odesa region, once so popular with Russian vacationers and intellectuals, officials and regular citizens are trying to erase any trace of the influence of Russian history in a country besieged by the man in the Kremlin today, Vladimir Putin.
—Michael Robinson Chávez, NPR, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for besiege
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besiege
Verb
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On Wednesday, gunmen attacked a checkpoint near Jableh, killing two members of the new government’s security force.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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The Chargers have the space to potentially attack the top of the market at this position.—
Daniel Popper,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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David in particular can’t seem to understand why Benji is so consistently plagued by suffering.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2025
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This collaboration aims to address the wearability and content issues that have plagued previous XR devices.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Following the show, the beauty community begged McGrath to unveil the secret behind her glass-shattering technique, which has been recreated by makeup artists time and again since then.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
24 Jan. 2025
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With the movie itself proving its might across three different categories, Morris’ absence begs the question: How? —Joey Nolfi 12 of 13 SNUB: Challengers score Time to compress and repress your rage, as the Academy pulled the aux cord out from one of the best original scores of 2024.—
Joey Nolfi,
EW.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Trump and many of his advisers are more hawkish on China than on Russia, but that does not mean Trump would risk direct conflict with China if Chinese forces blockaded Taiwan.—
Robin Niblett,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Jan. 2025
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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
Verb
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What afflicts the great star of the court can equally afflict the great star of the quad.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
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Among them was the plight of Marie Freyre, a 14-year-old afflicted with cerebral palsy and seizures who died within 24 hours of a long, bumpy ride from a Tampa hospital to the Golden Glades nursing home, ordered despite objections from her family.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This time, a lawyer for Harry petitioned the judge for an hour, before asking for yet another delay, until 2 p.m. London time, and then for two more hours, as the lawyers conferred with their clients in faraway time zones.—
Mark Landler,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2025
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Von then asked what could be done to rein in the influence of these lobbyists, who have long been protected by the First Amendment right to petition their government.—
Taylor Giorno,
The Hill,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Driving the news: Hamas armed militants released the three hostages in the center of Gaza City with hundreds of cheering Palestinians encircling the cars.—
Barak Ravid,
Axios,
19 Jan. 2025
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More lights hang from the balconies of the buildings and encircle a towering Christmas tree at the entrance.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Netanyahu is far more popular in Israel now than before the war and the Egyptian leader, who has viciously persecuted its parent organization, the global Muslim Brotherhood, has been reprieved by Western creditors in reward for maintaining a stony silence over Gaza.—
Max Rodenbeck,
TIME,
17 Jan. 2025
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The facts of the complex historical matter are somewhat simplified and compressed, but care is taken to inform the viewer — briefly — that the Mormons were persecuted in Missouri and Illinois and that church founder Joseph Smith was assassinated, to give some background to their defensiveness.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near besiege
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besiege. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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