beleaguered: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, journalistic, literary, business.
Quick answer
What does “beleaguered” mean?
Besieged, surrounded, or in a very difficult situation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Besieged, surrounded, or in a very difficult situation; put under great pressure.
Experiencing prolonged and intense difficulty, criticism, or hostility, often resulting in a state of exhaustion or isolation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more common in UK political/journalistic discourse.
Connotations
Both varieties strongly connote a sympathetic view of the subject as a victim of circumstances.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in formal writing in both regions; uncommon in casual speech.
Grammar
How to Use “beleaguered” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] is beleaguered by [PROBLEM/SOURCE].A beleaguered [NOUN] faced yet another challenge.To feel beleagueredVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beleaguered” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The castle was beleaguered by enemy forces for months.
- The minister felt beleaguered by the constant media scrutiny.
American English
- The small town was beleaguered by a series of natural disasters.
- The CEO is beleaguered by shareholder lawsuits.
adverb
British English
- (Rare) He fought on beleagueredly against the odds.
American English
- (Rare) The team played beleagueredly in the final quarter.
adjective
British English
- The beleaguered Prime Minister announced a cabinet reshuffle.
- Funding was finally granted to the beleaguered NHS trust.
American English
- The beleaguered governor resigned after the scandal.
- The beleaguered airline sought bankruptcy protection.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to companies facing financial losses, hostile takeovers, or relentless criticism.
Academic
Used in history/political science to describe leaders or states under sustained pressure.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might describe a parent dealing with multiple sick children.
Technical
Not typically used in STEM fields; reserved for socio-political contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “beleaguered”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “beleaguered”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beleaguered”
- Using it for temporary, minor stress (e.g., 'I'm beleaguered by this one email').
- Misspelling as 'beleagured' or 'beleguered'.
- Confusing with 'belaboured' (to overexplain).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. Its core semantics involve hardship and pressure.
Overwhelmingly more common as an adjective in modern usage. The verb form is now quite rare.
'Beleaguered' implies the stress comes from external, persistent attacks or demands, often creating a public or strategic crisis. 'Stressed' is more general and personal.
It would sound very formal or slightly dramatic in internal work emails. Better for reports, presentations, or formal writing.
Besieged, surrounded, or in a very difficult situation.
Beleaguered is usually formal, journalistic, literary, business. in register.
Beleaguered: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈliːɡəd/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈliːɡərd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A beleaguered fortress (literal/metaphoric)”
- “To be beleaguered on all sides”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'league' of enemies all coming at you at once – you are 'be-leagued'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A BATTLE / PROBLEMS ARE ATTACKERS / DIFFICULTY IS A SIEGE.
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best illustrates the meaning of 'beleaguered'?