Beset: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone or something is surrounded and attacked from all sides; often used to describe difficult situations that persist.

• The small village was beset by floods after the heavy rains
• He felt beset by constant challenges

Used to describe repeated and persistent aggressive pressure or intimidation towards someone.

• The employee reported being harassed by his supervisor
• She felt harassed by the constant phone calls

Used to describe something that causes continual trouble or distress, often of a severe nature, such as a disease or a bad situation.

• The company was plagued by financial issues
• She was plagued by doubts about her decision

Used to describe severe physical or mental suffering; often implies deliberate infliction of pain.

• He was tormented by nightmares
• The prisoner was tormented by his captors

Usually used to describe persistent attacks or pressure, often in a military context or to describe someone being bothered repeatedly.

• The king's forces were harried by the rebels for months
• I was harried by endless demands at work

Used to describe being troubled or attacked on all sides by problems or dangers.

• The company was beset by financial difficulties
• She felt beset by doubts and fears

Describes forming a circle around something or someone, often used in both neutral and positive contexts.

• The house is surrounded by a beautiful garden
• Friends and family surrounded her with love and support

Describes surrounding something or someone completely, emphasizing the circular nature of the action.

• The police encircled the building
• The children encircled the bonfire

Generally used in a negative sense to describe confining or restricting someone's movement or freedom.

• She felt hemmed in by her overprotective parents
• The small town was hemmed in by mountains

Usually describes a sudden attack made from a hidden position; often associated with military or tactical scenarios.

• The soldiers were caught in an ambush
• The robbers ambushed the travelers

Use when describing a situation where someone is persistently troubled by problems or difficulties.

• She was beset by doubts and fears about her new project.
• The small town was beset by economic hardships.

Use for situations where someone finds themselves in a difficult or unpleasant situation, often unexpectedly or as a result of poor planning.

• She found herself in a predicament when her car broke down in the middle of nowhere.
• His predicament worsened when he realized he'd left his wallet at home.

Use when someone has to make a difficult choice between two or more options, often equally undesirable or mutually exclusive.

• He faced a dilemma: stay in a job he hated or quit without having another offer.
• The committee's dilemma was whether to invest in new equipment or maintain the current old systems.

Use to describe a state of uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation, often involving a complex decision making process.

• She was in a quandary over whether to accept the job offer or continue her studies.
• They were in a quandary trying to decide the best way forward for the business.

Use to describe a difficult, often sad or dangerous situation, usually relating to someone's long-term condition or status.

• The plight of the homeless during the winter months is particularly tough.
• He was deeply moved by the plight of the refugees he read about in the news.