beleaguered
Harassed from all sides
Beleaguered means besieged or surrounded by troubles.
The original sense is military—an army beleaguered by enemy forces.
Now it usually describes someone overwhelmed by problems or criticism: the beleaguered CEO, a beleaguered school district.
The word conveys sympathy for someone under sustained pressure from multiple directions.
Persistently pursued or pressured
- pesteredAnnoyed with persistence
- badgeredPersistently pressured someone
- tormentedSubjected to severe distress
- harriedPersistently tormented or pressured
persecuted · plagued · beset · dogged · hassled · pressured · nagged · bullied
Expressed disapproval of
- attackedActed aggressively against
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- strugglingExperiencing serious difficulty
- contestedArgued against, disputed
challenged · opposed · assailed · maligned · scrutinized · targeted · undermined · battling
Encirclement forcing surrender
- encircledSurrounded on all sides
- blockadeSealing off a place
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
- surroundedBounded on all sides
assault · stronghold · garrison · entrenched · defenders · battlements · ramparts · trenches
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- overloadedBurdened past capacity
- floodedCovered with water
- overworkedLaboring beyond healthy limits
overburdened · bombarded · beset · overrun · deluged · stretched · strained · drowning
hounded
Persistently pursued or pressured
- pesteredAnnoyed with persistence
- badgeredPersistently pressured someone
- tormentedSubjected to severe distress
harried · persecuted · plagued · beset · dogged · hassled · pressured · nagged · bullied · baited
criticized
Expressed disapproval of
- attackedActed aggressively against
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- strugglingExperiencing serious difficulty
contested · challenged · opposed · assailed · maligned · scrutinized · targeted · undermined · battling · fighting
siege
Encirclement forcing surrender
- encircledSurrounded on all sides
- blockadeSealing off a place
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
surrounded · assault · stronghold · garrison · entrenched · defenders · battlements · ramparts · trenches · barricade
swamped
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- overloadedBurdened past capacity
- floodedCovered with water
overworked · overburdened · bombarded · beset · overrun · deluged · stretched · strained · drowning · buried
beleaguereduntroubled
Free from disturbance
relieved · unassailed · secure · unbesieged · unmolested
beleagueredcarefree
Free from anxiety
unburdened · unworried · untroubled · worry-free · serene