as in besieged
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 beleaguered
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
See All Example Sentences for beleaguered
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
See All Example Sentences for beleaguered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beleaguered
besieged
Verb
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The militants at the time besieged it for months before being pushed back.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
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To watch Herbert’s film is like watching a report on a place that has subsequently been besieged.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beleaguered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beleaguered. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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