beleaguered

adjective

be·​lea·​guered bi-ˈlē-gərd How to pronounce beleaguered (audio)
bē-
Synonyms of beleaguerednext
: 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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In November, the Mavericks fired beleaguered general manager Nico Harrison — the prime target of fans’ ire — amid the Mavericks’ sputtering start and Doncic’s scorching early-season play in Los Angeles. Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026 Following the blizzard, the beleaguered Northeast will see little relief from wintry weather if the upcoming forecast verifies. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026 In the photo the beleaguered president is pinned against the elevator’s back wall, shoulders hunched, arms crossed, eyes staring downward. Steven Levingston, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026 The beleaguered labor secretary had been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail on top of misusing her funds. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 22 Feb. 2026 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 7 Mar. 2026.

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