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.
Modern Western parents have been taught that the ideal, natural family means a beleaguered mom plus a partner who may or may not equally share the work of raising kids.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
The chief executive of South East Water has resigned, according to the beleaguered water company.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
Investors in Tokyo were also closely watching the yen after speculation of intervention by the Japanese government to prop up the beleaguered currency.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
For decades, Mark Mano’s brother, Barry Mano, would point to that night in Chicago as the moment he decided he needed to do something to stick up for the beleaguered class of sports officials.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
The beleaguered president decided not to run for a second term.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
