besieged

American  

[bih-seejd] / bɪˈsidʒd /

adjective

1. (of a fortified place) under siege; surrounded by enemy forces and cut off from help or supplies.

   The security forces downplayed the situation, claiming that local authorities were still in full control of the besieged city.

2. surrounded by crowds.

   He was charged with inciting to "mass disturbance" the more than 1,000 people who congregated close to the besieged police station.

3. assailed or inundated with requests or demands.

   Apart from the hero, every man in this movie is a rustic bigot, and every woman a besieged housewife.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of besiege.

Other Word Forms

• unbesieged adjective

Etymology

Origin of besieged

First recorded in 1425–75; besiege ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; besiege ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

"We were besieged inside our house and couldn't leave," she recalls, describing how power, water and internet connections were all severed.

From BBC

Italians and others are alleged to have paid large sums to shoot at civilians in the besieged city of Sarajevo.

From BBC

The man filming the video accused him of trying to smuggle supplies into the besieged city.

From BBC

The situation is worst in the besieged cities of el-Fasher in the western Darfur region and Kadugli in South Kordofan state.

From BBC

What to do with the besieged militants has become a sticking point in negotiations, Arab officials say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• assailed
• attacked
• beleaguered
• blockaded
• surrounded