beset
verb
be·set bi-ˈset 
bē-
beset; besetting
transitive verb
1
: to set or stud with or as if with ornaments
a crown beset with rubies
… leaves, whose edges were beset with thorns …
J. G. Frazer
J. G. Frazer2
: trouble, harass
inflation besets the economy
3
a
: to set upon : assail
the explorers were beset by wolves
b
: to hem in : surround
a town beset with high mountains
besetment
bi-ˈset-mənt
noun bē-
Synonyms
- afflict
- agonize
- anguish
- bedevil
- besiege
- curse
- excruciate
- harrow
- persecute
- plague
- rack
- torment
- torture
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
A lack of money is the greatest problem besetting the city today. he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life
Recent Examples on the Web Each has been beset by problems contributing to rising cotton prices. Tiffany Ap, Quartz, 31 Aug. 2022 The village has been beset by water supply problems, which officials attribute to old infrastructure that is in need of a major overhaul. Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 The high-speed rail program, which has begun construction in some parts of the state, has been beset by delays, criticism from communities and politicians and funding challenges. Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2022 This means that the final two years of Biden’s presidency will be beset by baseless and intrusive investigations (if not impeachment on an endless scroll) and inertia. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 14 June 2022 Yet Rani — whose name means queen in Bengali — has emerged as a celebrity in her town in the Manikganj District, a region that over the years has been beset by floods and in 1989, a tornado that is thought to have killed 1,300. Washington Post, 11 July 2021 Roopali Desai, the Democrats' attorney, told Martin that the audit has been beset by issues from the start and the refusal to release information on who is doing the counting and how ballot secrecy is being protected is troubling. Bob Christie, Star Tribune, 27 Apr. 2021 Superior Court judge Barbara Bellis, who has been beset by Jones’ delaying tactics over the suit’s four-year life, ordered all the lawyers associated with the Connecticut litigation to appear before her at 9 a.m. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2022 Netflix is beset with its own struggles in producing troves of content while Wall Street had punished the technology sector at large this year. Hamza Shaban, Anchorage Daily News, 20 July 2022 See More
Tiffany Ap, Quartz, 31 Aug. 2022 The village has been beset by water supply problems, which officials attribute to old infrastructure that is in need of a major overhaul. Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 The high-speed rail program, which has begun construction in some parts of the state, has been beset by delays, criticism from communities and politicians and funding challenges. Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2022 This means that the final two years of Biden’s presidency will be beset by baseless and intrusive investigations (if not impeachment on an endless scroll) and inertia. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 14 June 2022 Yet Rani — whose name means queen in Bengali — has emerged as a celebrity in her town in the Manikganj District, a region that over the years has been beset by floods and in 1989, a tornado that is thought to have killed 1,300. Washington Post, 11 July 2021 Roopali Desai, the Democrats' attorney, told Martin that the audit has been beset by issues from the start and the refusal to release information on who is doing the counting and how ballot secrecy is being protected is troubling. Bob Christie, Star Tribune, 27 Apr. 2021 Superior Court judge Barbara Bellis, who has been beset by Jones’ delaying tactics over the suit’s four-year life, ordered all the lawyers associated with the Connecticut litigation to appear before her at 9 a.m. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2022 Netflix is beset with its own struggles in producing troves of content while Wall Street had punished the technology sector at large this year. Hamza Shaban, Anchorage Daily News, 20 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English besetten, from Old English besettan, from be- + settan to set
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
beset
verb
be·set bi-ˈset
beset; besetting
1
: to attack violently The traveler was beset by wild beasts.
2
: surround sense 1 a moon beset with clouds
3
: to cause problems or difficulties for
Doubts beset him.
besets
verb
1
as in plagues
to cause persistent suffering to he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- plagues
- afflicts
- persecutes
- besieges
- bedevils
- tortures
- torments
- bothers
- attacks
- curses
- troubles
- anguishes
- agonizes
- harrows
- overwhelms
- assails
- racks
- stings
- disturbs
- vexes
- aggravates
- exasperates
- excruciates
- strikes
- pursues
- annoys
- distresses
- irritates
- irks
- worries
- disquiets
- harries
- oppresses
- riles
- harasses
- grieves
- hurts
- stresses
- agitates
- hounds
- perturbs
- upsets
- pesters
- chafes
- tyrannizes
- dogs
- victimizes
- badgers
- overpowers
- piques
- bugs
- tries
- discomforts
- molests
- pains
- gripes
- grates
- flusters
- smites
- peeves
- strains
- stabs
- pangs
- nettles
- rides
- galls
- wrings
- crushes
- pricks
- discomposes
- rasps
- smarts
- puts out
- martyrs
- gets
- hagrides
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- helps
- aids
- assists
- abets
- relieves
- soothes
- delivers
- releases
- quiets
- contents
- comforts
- consoles
- solaces
- succors
- reprieves
2
as in attacks
to take sudden, violent action against the unsuspecting tourists were suddenly beset by robbers Synonyms & Similar Words
- attacks
- assaults
- storms
- raids
- strikes
- robs
- assails
- ambushes
- invades
- charges
- sics
- rushes
- swarms
- sets upon
- sets at
- sicks
- sets on
- trashes
- rounds on
- bushwhacks
- tears into
- flies at
- besieges
- lights into
- pitches into
- goes at
- waylays
- beats up on
- descends (on or upon)
- ravages
- surprises
- turns (on)
- mobs
- bombards
- jumps (on)
- ambuscades
- flanks
- harries
- goes in (on)
- plunders
- sacks
- bombs
- envelops
- cannonades
- pounces (on or upon)
- pillages
- mugs
- loots
- batters
- nukes
- blitzes
- barrages
- cannons
- buffets
- overruns
- bum-rushes
- surprizes
- forays
- gangs up (on)
- plasters
- presses
- beleaguers
- bangs away (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- protects
- covers
- defends
- secures
- shields
- guards