embattled

American  

[em-bat-ld] / ɛmˈbæt ld /

adjective

1. disposed or prepared for battle.

2. engaged in or beset by conflict or struggle.

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embattled British  

/ ɪmˈbætəld /

adjective

1. prepared for or engaged in conflict, controversy, or battle

2. heraldry having an indented edge resembling battlements

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Other Word Forms

• unembattled
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of embattled

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; see embattle ¹, -ed ²; embattled def. 2 probably by association with the general sense “restrict, enclose” of many verbs formed with em- ¹, en- ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

embattled

The military is crucial to many here, given the country’s embattled status.

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026

By Monday evening, footage of the protests had made its way into his stump speech for embattled Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas, where video clips had already been screened for rallygoers.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

We've Won It All', a gesture of support for the embattled chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

Frasers Group bought up a stake in embattled sportswear brand Under Armour, the latest deal in the British retailer’s expansion strategy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

But, over time, the middle ground that people like Sprat and Bentley had sought to occupy between superstition and rationalism became increasingly embattled, and the pendulum began to swing the other way.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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