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

Derived 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

More drones followed, once more plunging the residents of this besieged city into a 21st century version of the Blitz.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

Many who worship at the mosque have immigrated to America from Gaza and other places besieged by violence.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Florence, wracked by dissent and besieged by the Holy Roman Empire, remained in ferment until the Medicis consolidated power in 1530 into what became the Duchy of Florence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Even if the regime doesn’t fall, it will be leaderless, impoverished, isolated, besieged, mostly disarmed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

But when supplies ran low and deadly epidemics of yellow fever, cholera, and typhus swept through the besieged town, some of the sick, starving refugees were forced out.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• assailed
• attacked
• beleaguered
• blockaded
• surrounded