beleaguered

adjective

be·​lea·​guered bi-ˈlē-gərd How to pronounce beleaguered (audio)
bē-
Synonyms of beleaguered
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These changing fortunes may point to both a limit to Trump’s ongoing trade assault on Canada, and a potential way forward for the country’s beleaguered manufacturers. — Ari Altstedter, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026 There’s the longtime police lieutenant, and the local career fishermen, and the seafood caterers, and the waitresses at a local restaurant—a couple of party-happy Irish girls, and a beleaguered Australian. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026 Ukraine is now looking to export by land, though this is a far less efficient alternative, and Ukraine's beleaguered economy is expected to suffer another hit. — Greg Myre, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026 Calls for independent review Monday’s open letter is just the latest shot fired at the beleaguered governing body. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 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

Browse Nearby Words

beleaguer
beleaguered
belecture
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beleaguered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beleaguered. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for beleaguered

Nglish: Translation of beleaguered for Spanish Speakers

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