besieged

[ bih-seejd ]

adjective

1. (of a fortified place) under siege; surrounded by enemy forces and cut off from help or supplies:

   The security forces downplayed the situation, claiming that local authorities were still in full control of the besieged city.

2. surrounded by crowds:

   He was charged with inciting to "mass disturbance" the more than 1,000 people who congregated close to the besieged police station.

3. assailed or inundated with requests or demands:

   Apart from the hero, every man in this movie is a rustic bigot, and every woman a besieged housewife.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of besiege.

Other Words From

• un·be·sieged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of besieged¹

First recorded in 1425–75; besiege ( def ) + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective senses; besiege ( def ) + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

A letter sent to the Israeli government demanded the country end the isolation of the besieged north, where aid groups warn that civilians are being starved amid Israel’s military offensive.

From BBC

Airlines have been besieged by unruly passengers this year, the FAA said, citing roughly 1,700 incidents to date.

From Los Angeles Times

Nevine, the paramedic, explained that they had been "besieged" at the school for 16 or 17 days.

From BBC

It quotes military sources as saying it came down in the Malha area, near the border with Chad, en route to the besieged city of el-Fasher.

From BBC

They reportedly did not speak for four years after early 2020, when McConnell and other senators found themselves besieged by a mob of Trump supporters convinced that the election was stolen.

From Salon

Related Words

• assailed
• attacked
• beleaguered
• blockaded
• surrounded