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

In the wake of her husband’s death in the line of duty, a stricken Santosh (Shahana Goswami) comes face to face with how precarious her situation is, as a childless woman in a sexist society without visible means of support (and dismissively mean in-laws to boot). —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025

Within hours, however, hope sailed into view in the form of the HMCS Caldwell, a Canadian destroyer that pulled close enough to identify the stricken sailboat. —David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025

His performance, inhabiting the sad, addicted, stricken, sick and hopeless romantic Lee is already being lauded as Oscar season begins. —Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Nov. 2024

The stricken area was cordoned off and out of public view. —Volodymyr Yurchuk, Chicago Tribune, 22 Nov. 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