beleaguered

adjective

be·​lea·​guered bi-ˈlē-gərd How to pronounce beleaguered (audio)
bē-
: suffering or being subjected to constant or repeated trouble or harassment
an economically beleaguered city
With its life-support system cut off, the beleaguered college has embarked on a tortuous campaign to keep going.Lucinda Harper
… as he evolved from conformist to opportunist to reformer to revolutionary to beleaguered leader.Philip Taubman

Examples of beleaguered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Homeowners face insurance coverage woes Meanwhile, in Sacramento, the state’s Department of Insurance is working to coax insurers back to California and provide relief for beleaguered homeowners. Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Based on the 2011 video game, the film has delivered a welcome hit for Warner Bros., giving the beleaguered studio the largest domestic opening of the year. Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025 That feeling of beleaguered, I-against-the-world self-righteousness? ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025 Liberal Christians, in particular, viewed it as a beleaguered democratic state and ally. Shalom Goldman, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beleaguered

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of beleaguer

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beleaguered was in 1644

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Cite this Entry

“Beleaguered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beleaguered. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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