Besiege (Verb)
Meaning 1
Surround so as to force to give up; "The Turks besieged Vienna".
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Examples
- The city walls were heavily defended to prevent the enemy army from coming close to besiege them.
- The medieval fortress was besieged by the opposing forces for months before its inhabitants were forced to surrender.
- Opposition parties besieged the corrupt government with demands for its resignation and reform.
- An angry mob tried to besiege the mansion, though police forces protected the residents from any harm.
- By gathering the data on their current campaign, proponents of environmental protection hope to besiege the factories with undeniable proof of pollution.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Cause to feel distressed or worried; "She was besieged by so many problems that she got discouraged".
Classification
Verbs of feeling.
Examples
- The employees were besieged by financial struggles after the company downsized.
- Her family was besieged by health issues in the past year.
- The students were besieged by coursework and exams during finals week.
- He was besieged by self-doubt after receiving the rejection letter.
- The single mother was besieged by debt and struggled to make ends meet.
Meaning 3
Harass, as with questions or requests; "The press photographers besieged the movie star".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The protesters besieged the city hall with constant demands for justice.
- Journalists besieged the politician with questions after the scandal broke.
- Fans besieged the celebrity with autograph requests at the airport.
- Activists besieged the company's headquarters with environmental concerns.
- The coach was besieged by reporters after the explosive post-game comments.