ridden

adjective

rid·​den ˈri-dᵊn 

1

: harassed, oppressed, or obsessed by

—usually used in combination

guilt-ridden

debt-ridden

2

: excessively full of or supplied with

—usually used in combination

slum-ridden

Examples of ridden in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After a car accident, Craig’s leg is amputated, leaving him bed-ridden and lonely at home with only his family and a neighbor boy for company. —Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025

The debris-ridden area spans at least half a square mile, officials said, adding debris was also found more than two miles away from the plant. —Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025

The film is about attempt to rescue a 6-year-old girl from a bullet ridden call in Gaza City in January 2024 and uses the real audio from her call to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. —Lindsey Bahr, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025

Could my stutter-step breathing and thick-ridden voice be imitated by a machine? —Adam Verner september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ridden

• debt-ridden
• priest-ridden

Rhymes for ridden

• bidden
• hidden
• midden
• swidden
• bedridden
• unbidden
• gramicidin
• overridden

Kids Definition

ridden

adjective

rid·​den ˈrid-ᵊn 

: extremely concerned with or burdened by

guilt-ridden

slum-ridden