beleaguered
Beleaguered is an adjective used to describe a person, group, place, or organization that is surrounded by persistent difficulties or under continuous pressure. It often conveys a sense of ongoing trouble, fatigue, or strain rather than a single setback. The term can apply to physical circumstances, such as a city or fortress under siege, as well as to social, political, or organizational situations where problems accumulate and morale wanes.
Etymology and usage stems from the imagery of a besieging force surrounding a target. The word traces
In contemporary use, beleaguered often implies that the subject is coping with multiple challenges, facing criticism,
Overall, the word conveys a state of ongoing pressure or encirclement, whether standing in a city under