beleaguered

adjective

be·​lea·​guered bi-ˈlē-gərd 

bē-

: 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

Glover, 45, has long been an elite striker of the golf ball with a beleaguered existence on the greens. —Justin Ray, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025

South African filmmakers are sounding an S.O.S. over the country’s beleaguered cash rebate system, with leading industry bodies demanding answers over unpaid claims and calling for greater transparency from the officials overseeing the cashback scheme. —Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 14 Mar. 2025

But America’s most beloved and beleaguered government agency won’t be subject to the same hostile takeover as other federal departments. —Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025

But for the beleaguered local industry, time is of the essence. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of beleaguer

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above