siege mentality

noun

a state of mind whereby one believes that one is being constantly attacked, oppressed, or isolated.

Origin of siege mentality

First recorded in 1965–70

Also called bun·ker men·tal·i·ty.

Words Nearby siege mentality

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use siege mentality in a sentence

When a community is in the grips of a siege mentality, that sort of lockstep friendship may seem appealing.
Canadian PM Stephen Harper Displays Lockstep Friendship With Israel at JNF Dinner | Mira Sucharov | December 4, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
But the prison siege mentality Voss describes is exacerbated by an absence of strong calming leadership in the congressional GOP.
Shutdown Crisis: We Need a Hostage Negotiator | John Avlon | October 6, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The question of political loyalty is often pitched at a presumed siege mentality.
How Do Canadian Jews View Israel? | Mira Sucharov | November 20, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for siege mentality

siege mentality

noun

a state of mind in which a person believes that he or she is being constantly oppressed or attacked

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

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