stricken

adjective

strick·​en ˈstri-kən 

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

Karen’s consistently stiff, stricken expression is the first clue that all is not rosy in this apparent idyll. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Aug. 2024

Ben looked stricken, paused for a moment and then looked down at me. —Sally Quinn, Washington Post, 18 July 2024

The stricken home at the river’s edge is owned by the family of Jenny Barnes, which has also owned the nearby Dam Store for 50 years, CNN affiliate WCCO reported. —Chris Boyette, CNN, 26 June 2024

The condition is called zombie deer disease because stricken animals exhibit drastic weight loss, lethargy, stumbling, listlessness, excessive drooling and other neurologic symptoms, according to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. —George Petras, USA TODAY, 29 Apr. 2024

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

Phrases Containing stricken

• conscience-stricken
• grief-stricken
• panic-stricken
• planet-stricken
• poverty-stricken

Kids Definition

stricken

adjective

strick·​en ˈstrik-ən 

1

: troubled with disease, misfortune, or sorrow

2

: hit or wounded by or as if by an object that was thrown