Definition of stricken
1a : afflicted or overwhelmed by or as if by disease, misfortune, or sorrowb : made incapable or unfit rescuers were sent to the stricken ship
2 : hit or wounded by or as if by a missile the deer had been stricken by an arrow
People Are Reading
Examples of stricken in a Sentence
I saw her stricken face looking up at us.
Recent Examples of stricken from the Web
-
Nobody, at this juncture, seems more stricken than Firth.
-
In the face of the terrorist attacks, Mr. Sarkozy projects aggression and pugnacity where Mr. Hollande merely looks stricken and concerned.
-
There’s death in his skin tone, but his face is alive with a kind of stricken fixity.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stricken'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of stricken
Middle English striken, from past participle of striken to strike
First Known Use: 14th century
STRICKEN Defined for English Language Learners
stricken
playDefinition of stricken for English Language Learners
-
: powerfully affected by disease, trouble, sorrow, etc.
STRICKEN Defined for Kids
stricken
playDefinition of stricken for Students
1 : showing the effect of disease, misfortune, or sorrow a grief-stricken look
2 : hit or wounded by or as if by an object that was shot or thrown
Learn More about stricken
-
See words that rhyme with stricken Spanish Central: Translation of stricken Nglish: Translation of stricken for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stricken for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up stricken? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!