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Definition of besetting

besetting

/bɪˈsɛt.ɪŋ/
be · set · ting
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besetting Lexical Profile

besetting Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

(of a problem, fault, or difficulty) persistently or continually troubling, assailing, or afflicting someone or something.

Example

"Procrastination had always been his besetting flaw, often jeopardizing his most promising projects."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for besetting

Word Nuance & Usage

Used exclusively in the attributive position before a noun, most famously in the phrase "besetting sin" (derived from Hebrews 12:1 in the King James Bible) to denote a person's chief or recurring moral weakness.

• Rhymes for besetting

• Nearby Words

beseeching
beseechingly
beset
besetting
beside
besides
besiege

Word Origin & Etymology

From the present participle of the verb "beset," which derives from Old English "besettan," meaning "to surround, encompass, or assail."

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Besetting. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/besetting
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