Beleaguers

To beleaguer someone or something means to persistently harass, trouble, or torment them. It often implies surrounding a person or place with troubles or difficulties, like a siege, but can also refer to a constant barrage of criticisms, demands, or pressures. The verb captures a sense of being under sustained attack or duress, leading to feelings of exhaustion, frustration, or even helplessness. The term suggests a situation where someone is struggling to cope with constant adversity, facing ongoing challenges that wear down their resources and resolve. The intensity of these difficulties varies, but the core element remains persistent opposition or pressure. The impact may manifest in various forms, such as emotional distress, practical difficulties, or hindered progress.

Beleaguers meaning with examples

• The small business owner was beleaguered by a constant stream of new regulations and demands from various government agencies, making it difficult to focus on growth. This ongoing pressure from authorities significantly impacted his mental health, as he found it hard to escape the constant threat of fines.
• After the scandal broke, the actress found herself beleaguered by the paparazzi, who camped outside her home and pursued her relentlessly. The relentless media scrutiny was emotionally draining, forcing her into hiding and negatively affecting her relationships with friends and family.
• The company was beleaguered by a series of product defects and negative customer reviews, causing sales to plummet and leaving them scrambling to repair their reputation. This led to severe financial strain and layoffs as the beleaguering negative feedback from clients was constant.
• The environmental group was beleaguered by legal challenges from powerful corporations, seeking to obstruct their efforts to protect the rainforest. This constant opposition caused significant setbacks to their conservation efforts because the corporations were fighting for the environment's destruction.
• The historical novel's protagonist was beleaguered by his own internal demons and the external challenges of war. His persistent battles with his own psychological issues and the overwhelming stress of combat, combined with the societal pressure, made him vulnerable.