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.

Rebecca Hall leads this five-part adaptation of the Jordan Tannahill novel about a woman beset by a mysterious and ever-present sound.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday distanced himself from an alleged plot to sabotage investigations into his entourage and Socialist party that has intensified pressure on a government already beset by legal woes.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Private-credit firms have been beset by a surge of redemption requests from investors anxious about the health of their loan portfolios, which some fear aren’t accurately valued.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

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

Evil may be endured when our days pass in mourning, heavy-hearted, hard beset, if only sleep reign over nighttime, blanketing the world’s good and evil from our eyes.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

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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