Synonyms for besetting
- bedevil
- beleaguer
- besiege
- embarrass
- invade
- overrun
- perplex
- surround
- 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
- 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 for besetting
- clarify
- clear up
- explain
- leave alone
- please
- surrender
- aid
- assist
- exclude
- free
- help
- let go
- lose
- release
- support
- unloose
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR BESETTING
My besetting fear was that I couldn't count on her obtuseness.
For all the agitation that must have been besetting him, his manner was serene as ever.
For the besetting irresoluteness of the Gumthorpes is consuming him.
But if a quick temper was Roger's besetting sin, pig-headedness was Ernest's.
Diderot was more free from this besetting weakness than any of his contemporaries.
Like the State, dignity is Mrs. Swiggs' weakness—her besetting sin.
This "rejoicing in iniquity" is the besetting sin of idle people.
No doubt, dormant within me lies every besetting sin, every human failing.
The besetting temptation of the free lance is to pamper himself.
Indolence was his besetting sin; and his will was untutored.
WORD ORIGIN
Old English besettan "to put, place; own, keep; occupy, settle; cover, surround with, besiege," from Proto-Germanic *bisatjan (cf. Old Saxon bisettjan, Dutch bezetten, Old High German bisezzan, German besetzen, Gothic bisatjan); see be- + set (v.). The figurative sense also was in Old English. Related: Beset (past tense); besetting.