Definitions

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.

Beset by heart disease for most of his life, he underwent a transplant in 2012.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 2025

Beset by chronic pain, she acknowledges challenges remain.

From Washington Times • Nov. 20, 2023

Beset by high inflation and financing costs and a drop in exports that has hit the country's industrial sector hard, it fell into recession last winter.

From Reuters • Aug. 25, 2023

Beset by national budgetary problems and embroiled in personal scandals, Berlusconi's People of Freedom party did poorly in 2011 local elections, losing Milan, his home town and power base.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2023

Beset amidst the timber islands and the cranberry swamps the Long Knives broke in retreat.

From Boys' Book of Frontier Fighters by Sabin, Edwin L. (Edwin Legrand)

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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