Definition of beleaguernext
as in to besiege
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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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.
Recent Examples of beleaguer But in other races, the progressive-left has fallen short, the bids being subject to the same forces that can beleaguer any campaign. — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 In New Jersey — a state beleaguered by waste and high costs in its public health plans — teachers and other school workers face premium hikes of 34% next year. — Bob Herman, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026 The department has been further beleaguered by concerns that leaders manipulated crime statistics to boost its image. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026 Local government officials have played a key role in orchestrating the competition’s spread, eying the boost for businesses in a domestic economy beleaguered by weak consumption. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for beleaguer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beleaguer
besiege
Verb
  • French cities have been shaken in recent weeks by vandalism and looting sparked by cost-of-living demonstrations, amid a broader crisis besieging the country’s lame-duck centrist government that has spiked French bond yields.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Mehra – director of 2016 pic Baar Baar Dekho and creator of Prime Video series Big Girls Don’t Cry – says that while Indian audiences are besieged by films and TV content right now, where Hunkkaar has cut through is in its subject matter.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beleaguer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beleaguer. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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