as in to besiege
to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication
beleaguered the castle for months
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Recent Examples of beleaguer
The agricultural economy, beleaguered by rising productions costs and low commodity prices, is expected to be facing losses for the fourth consecutive year in 2026.
—
Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Local authorities were outnumbered and beleaguered.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026
Original concepts include mazes set in a demonic version of the Old West, a life-sized toybox full of twisted dolls and a frozen Northern town beleaguered by monsters.
—Julie Tremaine, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The delay is due to getting external signs installed on all the grocery stores, the latest holdup in a project that has been beleaguered by construction delays.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beleaguer
Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Local authorities were outnumbered and beleaguered.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2026
Original concepts include mazes set in a demonic version of the Old West, a life-sized toybox full of twisted dolls and a frozen Northern town beleaguered by monsters.
—Julie Tremaine, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The delay is due to getting external signs installed on all the grocery stores, the latest holdup in a project that has been beleaguered by construction delays.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beleaguer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beleaguer
besiege
Verb
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His most recent drama, Evil Does Not Exist, examined the natural world as besieged by modern industry.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
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The Liberty sought a repeat victory in 2025 but was besieged by injuries and ultimately lost in the playoffs to the Mercury; Jones, the 2024 WNBA Finals MVP, injured her ankle and missed numerous games, while guard/forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton suffered a knee injury.—
Yohana Desta,
Vanity Fair,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beleaguer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beleaguer. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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