siege mentality

American

noun

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

siege mentality British

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

Etymology

Origin of siege mentality

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

The siege mentality of these gated communities exacted an immense human toll on employees, struggling for essentials like water or electricity.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 8, 2026

Any siege mentality going into Saturday's semi-final will surely be strengthened by memories of the 2019 World Cup final loss to South Africa.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2023

Any swagger they might have picked up for their World Cup win has been chased out of town by a new siege mentality.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2022

It has been weaponised to humiliate and frustrate others - a situation that breeds a siege mentality in those bearing the brunt, and a sense of entitlement among those benefiting from it.

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2022

Besieged by this siege mentality, the back to the literal wall, desperate and phobic, the Croats developed the paranoia typical of all small nations encircled by hostility and impending doom.

From Terrorists and Freedom Fighters by Vaknin, Samuel

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023