beleaguered

1 of 2

adjective

be·​lea·​guered bi-ˈlē-gərd 

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

beleaguered

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of beleaguer

Examples of beleaguered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The loss of Lewis is huge — for this Panthers offense as a whole but especially for this at-this-point beleaguered 2026 offensive line. — Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026

José Alvarado was voraciously booed off the mound after the beleaguered lefty gave up three runs in the fifth inning. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026

Focusing on walking and running is a major initiative for CEO Peter Stern, who has the massive task of transforming the beleaguered company. — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Berkshire Hathaway has gone on a buying spree in beleaguered homebuilder Lennar, accumulating almost a 10% stake. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of beleaguer

First Known Use

Adjective

1644, in the meaning defined above