Skip to main content
stricken

stricken

48 8.0
Seriously affected by illness, disaster, or strong feeling
  • adjective
  • /ˈstrɪkən/
translation icon : afectado
  • No one, least of all the stricken woman, seemed to know.
  • poverty-stricken
  • grief-stricken
  • panic-stricken

Thirsty, drought stricken, dying of thirst.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Some of the grief-stricken relatives let him know that it was not a game.

    Academic text (2011)
  • 'I suddenly felt panic-stricken at the thought of not seeing him again.'

  • So the family, of course, is completely grief stricken, but also really angry.

  • The agencies then send in, you know, emergency supplies to help the people stricken by the extreme event.

  • Transport planes laden with food and medical supplies have already been dispatched to the stricken area.

  • For even at his most grief-stricken, my grandfather was not a man given to self-pity or reflection.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The author offers a new translation and allows us to hear in counterpoint the stricken woman's lament.

    Academic text (1995)
  • She's so grief-stricken she runs to find solace in Mark Levine's bed.

  • The entire community came together to support those stricken by the devastating hurricane.

  • After the tragic news, she was stricken with overwhelming sadness and couldn't speak.

Synonyms

to overcome
vsstricken
86 4.1

Be so affected by a strong feeling that you cannot control yourself

is a serious condition that may not mean loss of control
laid low
vsstricken
20 7.2

Unable to do normal work and activities because of illness or a serious problem

is a general state of being seriously affected, not only incapacitated
smitten
vsstricken
20 5.8

Very strongly attracted to someone or something

is more general, applying to illness, disaster, or any strong emotion
anguished
vsstricken
19 7.0

Feeling very upset and in deep emotional pain

is broader, also including illness and disasters not only inner pain
grief-stricken
vsstricken
12 6.7

Very sad and shocked after losing someone close

is broader and covers illness, disaster, or other strong emotions
panic-stricken
vsstricken
4 6.3

Suddenly very afraid and acting without thinking

is broader and not limited to sudden fear reactions
harrowed
vsstricken
1 7.7

Very upset and shocked after seeing or experiencing something terrible

is similar but applies broadly beyond personal distress
terror-stricken
vsstricken
1 7.7

Suddenly feeling very frightened

is general and includes nonfearful causes of being overwhelmed
horror-stricken
vsstricken
1 7.2

Feeling very shocked and afraid after seeing something frightening

is a general state of serious harm or overwhelming feeling, not only shock
horror-struck
vsstricken
1 7.2

So shocked and afraid that you cannot move

covers many unpleasant causes beyond sudden shock or terror
afflicted
vsstricken
5.9

Suffering from pain, illness, or trouble

also covers emotional overwhelm and disasters, not only physical suffering
agonized
vsstricken
  • US
6.3

Feeling very strong pain or deep worry

refers to being severely affected even without showing it
panic-struck
vsstricken
7.5

Suddenly very afraid and unable to think clearly

covers many serious causes, not only sudden panic attacks
terror-struck
vsstricken
7.9

Suddenly feeling very afraid

is broader, applying to illness, disaster, and many emotions

Antonyms

695 1.0

In good body and mind condition without sickness or injury

3 3.9

Not changed or harmed by something and not showing strong feeling

Compounds

Very poor and needing help to live

Suddenly very afraid and acting without thinking

How Affected

inconsolable
10 7.2
stricken
48 8.0
troubled
133 3.5
affected
3.6

Surface Forms

stricken positive
strickener comparative
strickentest superlative

Morphology

stricken = strike (semi-transparent) = strike + en

The adjective comes from the past-participle form of 'strike' (to be 'struck' or 'stricken' by something), so the connection to being 'affected' is metaphorical and may not be fully obvious to all learners.

Etymology

The word stricken comes from the verb strike, which means 'to hit', so someone who is stricken has been 'hit' by illness, disaster, or a strong feeling and is left seriously affected.