What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
beleaguered
Example
The beleaguered team struggled to win any games this season. [beleaguered: adjective]
Example
She felt beleaguered by the demands of her job and personal life. [beleaguered: past participle]
besieged
Example
The castle was besieged by enemy forces for months. [besieged: verb]
Example
The overwhelmed teacher felt besieged by the never-ending stream of questions from her students. [besieged: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Beleaguered is less common than besieged in everyday language. Beleaguered is often used in specific contexts to describe individuals or groups facing ongoing challenges, while besieged can be used in a wider range of situations.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between beleaguered and besieged?
Both beleaguered and besieged have a formal tone and can be used in formal writing or speech. However, beleaguered may be slightly more formal due to its less frequent usage.
