riddled

[rid-ld]

adjective

1. 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.

2. pierced in many places (usually used in combination).

   His bullet-riddled body was found two days later.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of riddle.

Word History and Origins

Origin of riddled¹

riddle ² ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

These pages are full of people with anxieties and worries — from worrying about World War III to a retiree with $1 million who is riddled with financial security.

Read more on MarketWatch

The impasse has raised the possibility that the states could sue each other, a path riddled with uncertainty that water managers in both camps have said they hope to avoid.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They described his body as "riddled" with bullets in a post on X, calling it a "state crime, perpetrated under the orders of Daniel Noboa."

Read more on BBC

Defence barrister Mark Mulholland said Soldier G's statements were "riddled with questions of reliability" and gave "changing accounts" of events on Bloody Sunday.

Read more on BBC

Earlier this month more than 85 international scientists claimed it was riddled with errors and misrepresentations and that data had been "cherry-picked" - selectively chosen.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• addled 
• ruined www.thesaurus.com
• withered www.thesaurus.com