cornered
Americanadjective
-
having corners (usually used in combination).
a six-cornered room.
-
having a given number of positions; sided (usually used in combination).
a four-cornered debate.
-
forced into an awkward, embarrassing, or inescapable position.
a cornered debater; a cornered fox.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cornered
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at corner, -ed 3
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.
A short time later Deranque was one of three nationalist activists who, having failed to get away, were cornered by the opposing group.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026
“Blocking the strait isn’t in anyone’s interest, including Iran’s. But if they feel that they’re cornered, they’ll do it. And they have the logistics to do it,” said Bader Al-Saif, an academic at Kuwait University.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026
In the decade before Ueda arrived in 2023, the BOJ cornered the government bond market to the point where no debt issues traded hands External link on certain days.
From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025
Dusty is played by Josh O’Connor, who lately has cornered the market on sensitive, passive outsiders.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025
Dimarion took it, grinning like a predator who knows its prey has been cornered.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
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.
