besieged

USAGE SUMMARY

'besieged' is a perfectly correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb meaning to surround or hem in by force or encircle so as to cut off the supplies and communication. For example, "The small town was besieged by enemy troops for days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

People are in full support of these soldiers and they can't deny them access, so the Syrian army besieged Arbaeen and started to shoot against people.

The Guardian

In the 24 hours after the episode aired, he found himself besieged with fans, many of them teenage girls.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Rejecting his appeal, Hughes said there was serious mob disorder on 9 December, with "mass attacks on shops" and "hapless" shoppers and staff "besieged inside" as a large group moved up Whitehall to Oxford Street.

The Guardian

There was the one about a suspect, besieged by police on a rooftop, who was given KFC and Pepsi because the cops were obliged to protect his human rights.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fallon's declaration that British involvement was expanding beyond a humanitarian mission contrasted with the cautious language of Downing Street last week when officials said that the British mission was limited to providing humanitarian relief for Yazidi refugees besieged on Mount Sinjar.

The Guardian

As David Cameron declared that Britain should be prepared to deploy its "military prowess" to help defeat the jihadis, Fallon said that Britain's involvement in Iraq is fast expanding beyond the initial humanitarian mission to relieve Yazidi refugees besieged on Mount Sinjar.

The Guardian

"Why should we differentiate?" Isis fighters are closing in on the centre of besieged Kobani, where the Kurdish militia have sworn that they will fight to the death, and hundreds of desperate civilians are trapped in streets rank with the smell of rotting bodies.

The Guardian

While Sinn Fein fetes the two bombers as heroes who deserve like everyone else in the Troubles to be remembered, unionists of all hues regard them as would-be murderers and enemies of their besieged border community.

The Guardian

The theme of today's protest was to pay tribute to the besieged eastern city of Deir el-Zour.

The Guardian

She writes in chaos: a nest of papers, bits of chocolate, her daughter's hair slides, a huge whiteboard "besieged by my kids" and with nothing sensible on it.

The Guardian

It was a revolutionary year: sex, drugs, rock'n'roll, riots, student sit-ins, protests against the Vietnam war, general strikes, institutions besieged.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "besieged" when you want to convey a sense of being under significant pressure, attack, or surrounded by opposing forces. It's appropriate for both physical and metaphorical situations.

Common error

Avoid using "besieged" to describe everyday inconveniences or minor challenges. The word carries a strong connotation of being under serious duress, and using it inappropriately can diminish its impact and sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The word "besieged" functions primarily as a past participle or adjective, describing a noun that is being surrounded or attacked. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a state of being under pressure. Examples from Ludwig show its usage in contexts like "besieged city" or "besieged office".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "besieged" is a versatile term, as Ludwig AI confirms, primarily used as a past participle or adjective to describe something or someone under significant attack or pressure. Its usage spans from literal military sieges to metaphorical situations of being overwhelmed by problems. The term is most frequently encountered in news and media sources, with a neutral to formal register. While grammatically correct and widely used, it's important to use "besieged" judiciously to avoid hyperbole. Alternatives like "under siege" or "beleaguered" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under siege

This alternative uses a slightly more direct phrasing to indicate the state of being attacked or surrounded.

encircled

Focuses on the act of being surrounded, emphasizing the physical aspect of the situation.

surrounded

A general term indicating being enclosed on all sides, lacking the intensity of "besieged".

beleaguered

This term suggests being troubled or harassed, sharing the sense of being under pressure.

hemmed in

Emphasizes the feeling of being confined or restricted, similar to being under siege.

under attack

Highlights the act of being actively targeted, a key element of being "besieged".

blockaded

Specifically refers to the cutting off of supplies or access, a common consequence of being "besieged".

isolated

Indicates a state of being cut off from others, often a result of being "besieged".

hard-pressed

Suggests being under severe strain or difficulty, a common experience for those "besieged".

under pressure

Implies being subjected to significant stress or demands, a broader concept related to being "besieged".

FAQs

How is "besieged" used in a sentence?

The word "besieged" typically describes a situation where a place or person is surrounded by enemies or difficulties. For example: "The city was besieged by enemy forces" or "The company was besieged by lawsuits".

What are some alternatives to the word "besieged"?

Depending on the context, you could use words like "surrounded", "beleaguered", "encircled", or "under siege".

Is it correct to say someone is "besieged with requests"?

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to say someone is "besieged with requests" or "besieged with questions". This implies they are overwhelmed by a large number of demands.

What is the difference between "besieged" and "isolated"?

"Besieged" implies being surrounded and attacked or pressured, while "isolated" means being separated or cut off from others. A place can be both besieged and isolated, but they describe different aspects of the situation.