beleaguered
Americanadjective
-
surrounded by military forces; besieged.
The beleaguered city of Limerick, having stood to the last, finally capitulated to the forces of William of Orange.
-
beset, surrounded, or overburdened by troubles.
Restoring our beleaguered oceans to health will require an emphasis on diversification and conservation, and more sensible fishing practices.
verb
Etymology
Origin of beleaguered
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In recent years, the LSE, alongside the U.K.’s finance and markets regulators, has ushered in a suite of rule changes in an effort to turn the beleaguered bourse around.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Some at the European confederation claim Wednesday's statement shows exactly why the beleaguered president must step down.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
The US federal government on Friday unveiled its plan for future management of the beleaguered Colorado River, with significant water reductions ahead for several western states in response to record-breaking droughts worsened by climate change.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
Since then, Trump has repeatedly lauded Rodríguez for her cooperation and has said the U.S. is ready to help the beleaguered oil-rich country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Together, we fled across the bay towards the lights of the beleaguered city.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
