Synonyms

beleaguer

American

[bih-lee-ger] / bɪˈli gər /

verb (used with object)

to surround with military forces.
to surround or beset, as with troubles.

Synonyms:

hector, plague, annoy, vex, vex, bother, badger, pester, harass

beleaguer British

/ bɪˈliːɡə /

verb

to trouble persistently; harass
to lay siege to

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

beleaguerer noun

Etymology

Origin of beleaguer

First recorded in 1580–90; be- + leaguer ¹

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.

“To beleaguer the obvious, it’s been cool and wet in Washington,” Washington State Climatologist Nick Bond said Wednesday during a briefing on drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest.

From Seattle Times • May 19, 2022

At the same time, a limited supply of labor continues to beleaguer employers, with the number of Americans on payrolls still well below pre-pandemic levels.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 2, 2021

West appears deeply, singularly fascinated by his, however it’s presently manifesting; fame seems to neither afflict nor beleaguer his peers in quite the same way.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 29, 2016

Unforthcoming on 2002, Mr Modi is happy to talk about how he has successfully tackled economic problems in Gujarat that beleaguer other states.

From Economist • Dec. 12, 2013

“Fine, fine. Enjoy your receipts. I’m not giving up on you, though. What’s the point of being old if you can’t beleaguer the young with your vast stores of wisdom?”

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023