# beleaguered

/bɪˈɫiɡɝd/ (US) · /bɪlˈiːɡəd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beleaguered
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

feeling very tired, worried, or frustrated because of a long and difficult situation. You use this to describe someone who is being attacked or troubled from many sides.

For teachers: feeling or showing exhaustion, frustration, or distress as a result of prolonged pressure or attack. Often used to describe a person or group facing multiple simultaneous challenges.

## Examples

- The beleaguered manager finally took a week of vacation.
- After months of constant criticism from the press, the beleaguered politician decided to step down from the campaign.
- The beleaguered staff worked through the night to resolve the technical failures, their exhaustion evident in the slow, deliberate movements they made to complete the final report.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.