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adj B1 Intermediate Uncommon

stricken

STRIH-kuhn

Stricken (adj) means Badly affected by something harmful, such as illness, grief, or disaster. Example: “The drought-stricken region hadn't seen rain in months.”

adj
1
Badly affected by something harmful, such as illness, grief, or disaster.
"The drought-stricken region hadn't seen rain in months."
"She looked stricken with grief at the funeral."

How to use stricken

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBadly hit or affected by something bad, like an illness, disaster, or strong emotion.

Common pairings
grief-stricken poverty-stricken disease-stricken

Word forms

more stricken comparative, most stricken superlative

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Test yourself on “stricken” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The drought-_____ region hadn't seen rain in months.

Etymology

From the old past participle of "strike," via Old English stricen.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for stricken

See all rhymes for stricken →

Frequently asked questions

What does “stricken” mean?

The word “stricken” means badly affected by something harmful, such as illness, grief, or disaster. In plain terms, badly hit or affected by something bad, like an illness, disaster, or strong emotion.

How do you pronounce “stricken”?

“Stricken” is pronounced STRIH-kuhn (/ˈstɹɪkən/ in IPA).

How do you use “stricken” in a sentence?

Here is “stricken” used in a sentence: “The drought-stricken region hadn't seen rain in months.”

What part of speech is “stricken”?

“Stricken” is an adjective.

Where does the word “stricken” come from?

The word “stricken” comes from Old English. From the old past participle of "strike," via Old English stricen.

Is “stricken” a common word?

“Stricken” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial