riddled
Americanadjective
-
filled with, and often thoroughly weakened by, something undesirable (used in combination).
For decades taxpayers subsidized this fault-riddled nuclear plant, with its defective reactors and substandard construction.
-
pierced in many places (usually used in combination).
His bullet-riddled body was found two days later.
verb
Etymology
Origin of riddled
Explanation
If an object is riddled with something, that means it's covered by that thing: for example, a tree trunk might be riddled with tiny holes made by the beaks of woodpeckers. The adjective riddled most often describes something damaged by or spread full of holes, like a rusty old mailbox riddled with bullet holes or a block of Swiss cheese riddled with holes. You can also use it figuratively: "It's so sad, her dog is riddled with cancer," or "The plot of your novel is riddled with holes — it just doesn't hold up." Riddled comes from the Old English hriddel, "sieve."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Riddled by seizures, he was referred to a surgeon, who localized the epilepsy to the temporal lobe inside his brain, home of the hippocampus.
From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2024
Riddled with injuries to key players, including four players out with anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries, Arsenal always faced a tall order to disrupt a Chelsea side hunting more silverware.
From BBC • May 21, 2023
Riddled by injuries all year, the Yankees had 30 players make a combined 39 trips to the injured list — both big league records.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 4, 2019
Riddled by injuries all year, the Yankees had 30 players make a combined 39 trips to the injured list - both big league records.
From Washington Times • Oct. 4, 2019
BOOK: I was born in a cage But smashed it with rage The Gaunt inside me Riddled me free Of that which would stop me to be.
From "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
