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.

Bass was also beset with challenges, being an incumbent in a city beset with problems.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

The maker of Hot Wheels, American Girl and Uno has recently confronted a challenging market for toys, beset by tariffs on goods produced overseas and weaker-than-expected demand for Barbie dolls and Fisher-Price preschool products.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 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

Nature herself has met many of the problems that now beset us, and she has usually solved them in her own successful way.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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