beleaguered

1 of 2

adjective

be·lea·guered bi-ˈlē-gərd

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

beleaguered

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of beleaguer

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.

Adjective

At the same time, the Panthers saw very little impact from their pass rush — a disappointment considering the beleaguered state of Houston’s offensive line — and Stroud didn’t struggle to find short completions. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 The father of a sailor on board the beleaguered USS Abraham Lincoln was released from ICE detention. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 Less access to foreign currency will put further pressure on the beleaguered Iranian currency – the rial – and lead to higher import costs and even higher inflation. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026 There were questions from Gary residents about whether other parts of the region were being prioritized over their long-beleaguered city, which NIPSCO executives adamantly denied. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beleaguered

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of beleaguer

First Known Use

Adjective

1644, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of beleaguered was in 1644

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

beleaguer

beleaguered

belecture

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Beleaguered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beleaguered. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

beleaguered

adjective

Examples of beleaguered in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on beleaguered

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes