stricken

adjective

strick·​en ˈstri-kən How to pronounce stricken (audio)
1
a
: afflicted or overwhelmed by or as if by disease, misfortune, or sorrow
b
: 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

Examples of stricken in a Sentence

I saw her stricken face looking up at us.
Recent Examples on the Web Khattak added that the rescue operation – which involves Pakistan military helicopters – is being hampered due to gusty winds in the area and the possibility of the helicopters’ rotors destabilizing the stricken gondola, according to Reuters. Greg Norman, Fox News, 22 Aug. 2023 Images published in the afternoon by the coast guard showed gray smoke pouring out of the stricken ship. Mike Corder, Detroit Free Press, 26 July 2023 In the years since, workers have had to constantly pump water into Fukushima’s stricken reactors, which still contain hot nuclear fuel. Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 18 July 2023 The video quality ranges from shaky phone vids to cinematic noir masterpieces, all centering on the stricken Gen Z youths and scenes of gooey lavender mayhem. Cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 28 June 2023 Beachgoers are being warned to stay away from stricken animals and to instead call rescue organizations. CBS News, 22 June 2023 Providing relief to the stricken areas is the Turkish government’s most immediate concern. Soner Cagaptay, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2023 Qatar and other wealthy Gulf countries have joined the global effort to send rescuers and aid to the stricken region. Bloomberg.com, 14 Feb. 2023 In one clip, a rescue diver reaches the stricken vessel just before a massive wave capsizes it and knocks the only passenger into the thumping surf. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 7 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stricken.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English striken, from past participle of striken to strike

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of stricken was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near stricken

Cite this Entry

“Stricken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stricken. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

stricken

adjective
strick·​en ˈstrik-ən How to pronounce stricken (audio)
1
: troubled with disease, misfortune, or sorrow
2
: hit or wounded by or as if by an object that was thrown

More from Merriam-Webster on stricken

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