1
as in blockaded
to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication
armies besieged the city for six months before it finally surrendered
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
a family besieged by worries about the faltering economy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in petitioned
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner
bereaved parents continued to besiege the president with pleas to end the war
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of besieged
In recent months, the Kennedy Center has been besieged by performance cancelations both voluntary and involuntary.
—
Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025
At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025
Consumers are besieged nearly every day about some news about Elon Musk’s latest moves at the Department of Government Efficiency to gain access to government records that contain sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers.
—Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Well-wishers so besieged Moore that the actress had to be informed formally that the engraving process was complete.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
The National Rally took the lead in the first round of parliamentary votes but was besieged by scandal among its candidates, including a woman who appeared in a photo wearing a World War II-era Nazi officer cap.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 21 Feb. 2025
So people are now facing the choice between staying in the camp to die from hunger, or risk their lives by moving through Darfur areas besieged by the RSF, Suliman said.
—Gabe Joselow, NBC News, 11 Feb. 2025
The two girls shared their perspectives on a recent national controversy that has besieged their community caused by a trans athlete competing on the girls' cross country team.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2025
Concurrently, rockets and projectiles similarly besieged the southern parts of the country.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2025
Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025
At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025
Consumers are besieged nearly every day about some news about Elon Musk’s latest moves at the Department of Government Efficiency to gain access to government records that contain sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers.
—Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Well-wishers so besieged Moore that the actress had to be informed formally that the engraving process was complete.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
The National Rally took the lead in the first round of parliamentary votes but was besieged by scandal among its candidates, including a woman who appeared in a photo wearing a World War II-era Nazi officer cap.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 21 Feb. 2025
So people are now facing the choice between staying in the camp to die from hunger, or risk their lives by moving through Darfur areas besieged by the RSF, Suliman said.
—Gabe Joselow, NBC News, 11 Feb. 2025
The two girls shared their perspectives on a recent national controversy that has besieged their community caused by a trans athlete competing on the girls' cross country team.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2025
Concurrently, rockets and projectiles similarly besieged the southern parts of the country.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besieged
Verb
-
Just a few months prior, Blackbeard and his small pirate flotilla had blockaded Charleston, South Carolina, for close to a week.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 Nov. 2024
-
Military vehicles and local and state police blockaded the route into the town center.—
Jessica Pishko,
The New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Khalil's attorneys had petitioned for his release today, arguing that his actions were protected under the First Amendment and that he is being targeted for his speech.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
-
In October 2020, the couple petitioned to be permanent guardians of one of their daughter's friends after being granted temporary guardianship earlier that year.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.—
Kevin Sabet,
Newsweek,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Canada attacked more fervently afterwards .—
Joshua Kloke,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Ringo was yellow submarines and octopus gardens, the mascot little brother, despite being the eldest Beatle, and the best at flittering above the feuds that afflicted the trio of geniuses around him.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Unfortunately, this fresh ailment has afflicted him for the majority of his 2024-25 run.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Vonnegut begged readers to choose kindness, to keep winking through the darkness.—
Devin Kelly,
Outside Online,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Fans online have begged her family to give her professional tools like a PC or VOCALOID software.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Shaken after being assaulted by a patient, Dana ends her shift by taking down the family photos she’s taped around her workstation.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
11 Apr. 2025
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Men broke into an Arizona resort room, assaulted a man and kidnapped a woman, police said.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Besieged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besieged. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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