BESETTING Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

besetting 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈse-tiŋ

Definition of besetting

as in obsessive

caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge that woman's besetting need to meddle in the affairs of others

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

besetting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of beset

as in plaguing

to cause persistent suffering to he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in attacking

to take sudden, violent action against the unsuspecting tourists were suddenly beset by robbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of besetting

Verb

Rodent infestation and mold are among the many problems besetting the 19th-century estate. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 26 June 2026 Both mother and daughter reflect on the troubles besetting their own family, as the mother tries to write a novel. — Michael Schaub, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 The Leafs needed an NHL player with injuries besetting their blue line. — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026 To his sons, however, the Party offers meaning and purpose—a powerful countervailing force to the lack of prospects besetting their generation, which had been decimated by the Great War. — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for besetting

Adjective

The players responded with an almost obsessive level of focus.

— Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
His attention drifts towards intimate details – the bare armpit, the small hollow at the base of Rafael’s neck – and the music follows him into this increasingly private, almost obsessive fascination.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of obsessive

Verb

The 21 states fully running their own marketplaces generally have more robust fraud prevention programs, such as multifactor authentication, and have reported few or none of the kinds of unauthorized sign-ups plaguing the federal marketplace.

— Julie Appleby, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
The 21 states fully running their own marketplaces generally have more robust fraud prevention programs and have reported few or none of the kinds of unauthorized sign-ups plaguing the federal marketplace.

— Julie Appleby, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of plaguing

Verb

In July, Brown pleaded guilty to a count of affray at London’s Southwark Crown Court for attacking a music producer with a tequila bottle on the head.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
The approval of Revolution Medicines’ pancreatic cancer drug Rasonque earlier this year showed that a medicine capable of attacking mutations in a group of genes called RAS could prolong survival for patients with the particularly aggressive cancer.

— Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of attacking

Adjective

Some people may also become more impulsive, choosing the quickest or easiest option simply to avoid the stress of making a decision.

— Kriti Kumar, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Add to that discretionary recurring expenses like streaming subscriptions and some impulsive spending, and individuals can easily wind up with little room between their income and their expenses, Olson says.

— Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of impulsive

Verb

Singh and Jaggseer, like Beyoncé and Lil Nas X before them, highlight an identity crisis afflicting modern country music.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
The work continues and the Frates family has maintained the passion that Pete instilled in them in fighting the disease that is still afflicting far too many people.

— Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of afflicting

Verb

Federal prosecutors charged him with assaulting the agent, then dropped the case in February.

— Ashley Grams, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Stokes’ wife, former Hot 97 radio personality and employee TT Torrez, has also spoken out against the incident, issuing a statement through a representative accusing Funk Flex of physically assaulting her during the altercation with her husband.

— Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of assaulting

Verb

Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.

— New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.

— Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026

Definition of persecuting

Browse Nearby Words

besets

besetting

beshrew

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Besetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besetting. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of besetting

adjective

verb

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