beset

[bih-set] / bɪˈsɛt /

VERB

plague; hem in

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bedevil beleaguer besiege embarrass invade overrun perplex surround

STRONG

aggress assail attack badger bug circle compass dog encircle enclose encompass entangle environ girdle harass harry hassle infest nag nudge pester ride ring storm strike

WEAK

drive up the wall fall on fall upon give a bad time give a hard time give one the business give the needle jump on one's case pick on put the squeeze on start in on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clarify clear up explain leave alone please surrender

STRONG

aid assist exclude free help let go lose release support unloose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Spurs avoided relegation on the final day of the season thanks to a 1-0 win over Everton but their difficult campaign was beset by a constant flow of injuries to key players.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Construction work in the far east Asian nation is frequently beset by poor planning and project management, as well as design errors, research suggests.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

Once the French menace had lifted, Britain increasingly beset America with taxes that Washington felt it had no right to levy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

But it has been beset by delays, and Berlin is now weighing handing control of the project to Rheinmetall.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

Built of stout timber, banded with iron, beset with florin spikes, the door did not appear to be locked.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Vocabulary lists containing beset

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