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.

“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul was picked to boost an aging reality franchise beset by sagging ratings and declining ad revenue—a decision that blew up in ABC’s face.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“Corporations are beset by the same harmful tendencies as investors. When they are at their peak, they reach for the sun,” wrote Victor Niederhoffer in his book “Practical Speculation.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Newey's remarks on the eve of the new Formula 1 season laid bare the crisis at Honda as the company starts its new working relationship with Aston Martin beset by performance and reliability problems.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

South Sudan, the world's youngest country, has been beset by civil war, poverty and corruption since it was formed in 2011.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

The whole situation is beset with questions for which there are at present no satisfactory answers.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Vocabulary lists containing beset

Beowulf

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"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou

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Beowulf vocabulary

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