beleaguer

[ bih-lee-ger ]

/ bɪˈli gər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR beleaguer ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to surround with military forces.

to surround or beset, as with troubles.

Nearby words

Origin of beleaguer

First recorded in 1580–90; be- + leaguer¹

SYNONYMS FOR beleaguer

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR beleaguer ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsbe·lea·guer·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for beleaguered

Lohse and his beleaguered fellow pledges were, he claims, forced to chug vinegar and to dine on the dreaded “vomlet.”
An Ivy League Frat Boy’s Shallow Repentance|Stefan Beck|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Outgunned and beleaguered, he says, Iraqi army units in Anbar are beginning to collapse.
Iraqis Swear: Baghdad Airport is Safe From ISIS|Susannah George|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Having finally re-joined the main body of the Ukrainian forces, the beleaguered defenders of Sector D were evacuated.
Ukrainian Troops Retreat From Russian Border, Leaving 100 Kilometers Open to Invasion|Pierre Vaux|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Taken together, it gives them a huge tactical advantage over the beleaguered Ukrainian armed forces.
Germany Helped Prep Russia for War, U.S. Sources Say|Josh Rogin|April 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And here is where the beleaguered administration may catch a break from this hostile court.
Obama Will Lose Recess Appointment Case, but Will Other Presidents Lose Their Power?|Andrew Cohen|January 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Page 159: "beleagured" changed to "beleaguered" (had been beleaguered in Metz).
The Franco-German War of 1870-71|Count Helmuth, von Moltke
Very shortly he was clear of the pickets, and turning once more to the left pushed forward for the beleaguered town of Kimberley.
With Rifle and Bayonet|F.S. Brereton
Shells were thrown into the beleaguered town, and much injury was inflicted.
The Blue and The Gray|A. R. White
While the British beleaguered Charleston, his native city, he commanded a company of troops, and was taken prisoner.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
They were beleaguered and yet not beleaguered; surrounded and yet not surrounded; imprisoned and still free.
Wang the Ninth|Putnam Weale

British Dictionary definitions for beleaguered

beleaguer

/ (bɪˈliːɡə) /

verb (tr)

to trouble persistently; harass

to lay siege to

Word Origin for beleaguer

C16: from be- + leaguer 1

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

Word Origin and History for beleaguered

beleaguer

1580s, from Dutch or Low German belegeren "to besiege," from be- "around" (see be-) + legeren "to camp," from leger "bed, camp, army, lair," from Proto-Germanic *leg-raz-, from PIE *legh-to- "lie" (see lie (v.2)). A word from the Flemish Wars (cf. Swedish belägra, Dutch belegeren "besiege," German Belagerung "siege"). Spelling influenced by league. Related: Beleaguered; beleaguering.

beleaguer

verb (used with object)

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of beleaguer

Examples from the Web for beleaguered

beleaguer

verb (tr)

Word Origin for beleaguer

beleaguer