under siege

phrase

1
: surrounded with soldiers or police officers in a siege
The city was under siege and food was getting scarce.
2
: very seriously attacked or criticized by many people
The newspaper has been under siege lately by its readers for printing a false story.

Examples of under siege in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These days, the college education that, in our time, cost about $20,000 for four years is under siege, regarded by some as a waste of time and money, by others as a perilous marination in dangerous ideas. — David Shribman, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026 In the United States, meanwhile, cities have come under siege by federal authorities carrying out sweeping anti-migrant raids. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026 Castles and stately homes were blown up, towns put under siege and their walls razed, churches stripped. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 Their strength was in walloping a structure and making parts of it collapse, thereby weakening the defenses of the castle under siege. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for under siege

Rhymes for under siege

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Browse Nearby Words

underside
under siege
undersign
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Cite this Entry

“Under siege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20siege. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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