to attack on all sides; assail; harass

to be beset by enemies; beset by difficulties.

to surround; hem in

a village beset on all sides by dense forest.

to set or place upon; bestud

a gold bracelet beset with jewels.

Nautical . to surround (a vessel) by ice, so that control of the helm is lost.

verb

aggress , assail , attack , badger , bedevil , beleaguer , besiege , bug * , circle * , compass , dog * , drive up the wall , embarrass , encircle , enclose , encompass , entangle , environ , fall on , fall upon , girdle , give a bad time , give a hard time , give one the business , give the needle , harass , harry , hassle , infest , invade , jump on one’s case , nag , nudge , overrun , perplex , pester , pick on , put the squeeze on , ride , ring , start in on , storm , strike , surround , assault , go at , have at , sail into , blockade , invest , siege , hound , importune , plague , solicit , bait , tease , torment , worry , begird , circle , gird , hedge , hem , allot , arrange , bug , obsess , obstruct , ply , sail , spend