adj
beleaguered
bih-LEE-guhd
Beleaguered (adj) means Surrounded by military forces; besieged. Example: “The beleaguered garrison held out for weeks before reinforcements arrived.”
adj
1
Surrounded by military forces; besieged.
"The beleaguered garrison held out for weeks before reinforcements arrived."
"4,500 British and Indian troops and twelve thousand camp-followers, including some three dozen British wives, children and nannies, found themselves beleaguered in what Kaye described as little better than ‘sheep-folds on the plain’."
— Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game (1990)
2
Struggling under constant pressure, criticism, or difficulty.
"The beleaguered manager faced angry customers all afternoon."
How to use beleaguered
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnder siege, or worn down by ongoing trouble and pressure.
Common pairings
a beleaguered city
the beleaguered prime minister
a beleaguered team
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more beleaguered
- Superlative
- most beleaguered
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The _____ garrison held out for weeks before reinforcements arrived.
Etymology
From beleaguer ("to besiege," from Dutch belegeren, "to lay siege to") plus the adjective-forming suffix -ed.
Antonyms
unbeleaguered
Rhymes for beleaguered
See all rhymes for beleaguered →Frequently asked questions
What does “beleaguered” mean?
The word “beleaguered” means surrounded by military forces; besieged. In plain terms, under siege, or worn down by ongoing trouble and pressure.
How do you pronounce “beleaguered”?
“Beleaguered” is pronounced bih-LEE-guhd (/bɪˈliːɡəd/ in IPA).
How do you use “beleaguered” in a sentence?
Here is “beleaguered” used in a sentence: “The beleaguered garrison held out for weeks before reinforcements arrived.”
What is the opposite of “beleaguered”?
The opposite of “beleaguered” — its antonyms — is unbeleaguered.
What part of speech is “beleaguered”?
“Beleaguered” is an adjective.
Where does the word “beleaguered” come from?
The word “beleaguered” comes from Dutch. From beleaguer ("to besiege," from Dutch belegeren, "to lay siege to") plus the adjective-forming suffix -ed.
How many meanings does “beleaguered” have?
“Beleaguered” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: surrounded by military forces; besieged.
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