Both struck and stricken come from the verb strike, but they serve different purposes.
Struck is the simple past tense of strike and its standard past participle. Stricken is an alternative past participle, used mainly as an adjective in expressions about grief, fear, illness, and hardship.
For example: “Lightning struck the tree” and “The family was stricken with grief.”
Quick Answer
Use struck for actions such as hitting something, reaching an agreement, or making a strong impression.
Use stricken in established expressions such as grief-stricken, panic-stricken, and stricken with illness.
| Verb form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Base form | strike | I strike the ball. |
| Simple past | struck | I struck the ball. |
| Past participle (standard) | struck | The tree was struck by lightning. |
| Past participle (alternative, mostly adjective or fixed phrase) | stricken | She was stricken with grief. |
| Present participle | striking | She is striking the ball. |
The key distinction: only struck is the simple past tense. Stricken is a past participle only, and it mostly appears in set expressions.
What Does Struck Mean?
Struck can mean to hit something, happen suddenly, or make a strong impression, depending on context.
Physical impact
- The ball struck the window.
- A falling branch struck the parked car.
Sudden events
- Lightning struck the tree during the storm.
- An earthquake struck the region before dawn.
Ideas and impressions
- A better idea struck me during the meeting.
- I was struck by her honesty.
Agreements
- The two companies struck a deal.
- The team struck a balance between cost and quality.
Struck also works as a past participle after helping verbs: “The same thought had struck me earlier.” “The building was struck during the storm.”
What Does Stricken Mean?
Stricken describes someone or something deeply affected by suffering, fear, illness, or hardship.
- Grief: The grief-stricken family gathered to remember their loved one. / He was stricken with grief after hearing the news.
- Fear: The panic-stricken passengers rushed toward the exit. / She was stricken with fear when she heard the crash.
- Illness: Several residents were stricken with the disease. / The stricken patient received medical care.
- Hardship: The charity provides meals to poverty-stricken families.
- Guilt: The guilt-stricken driver admitted his mistake.
Both grief-stricken and stricken with grief are established expressions. Struck by grief is also correct, but the stricken forms are more common.
Struck vs. Stricken: Key Differences
| Feature | Struck | Stricken |
|---|---|---|
| Simple past tense | Yes | No |
| Past participle | Yes (standard) | Yes (alternative) |
| Common uses | Physical impact, sudden events, ideas, agreements | Grief, fear, illness, hardship |
| Example phrase | struck a deal, struck by lightning | grief-stricken, panic-stricken |
These are usage patterns, not absolute rules. Both words can describe an effect on people, so the choice often depends on the established phrase.
Struck or Stricken in Legal English
Both struck from the record and stricken from the record are used. They mean a statement or other material is removed from a court record or excluded from consideration.
- The judge ordered the statement stricken from the record.
- The court struck the objection from the record.
The choice depends on sentence structure and drafting style. In this context, stricken does not mean upset or distressed. The precise legal effect depends on the court’s order and applicable rules.
Struck or Stuck?
These look similar but come from different verbs. Struck is a form of strike (to hit or affect). Stuck is a form of stick (to attach, remain fixed, or become unable to move).
- Lightning struck the tree.
- Our car got stuck in the mud.
- I stuck the note on the refrigerator.
Synonyms
Struck (depends on meaning): hit, affected, impressed, surprised, reached (struck a deal). For example, reached works in “struck a deal” but not in “Lightning struck the tree.”
Stricken (depends on meaning): distressed, devastated (extreme emotional pain), afflicted (suffering from a condition or problem), overcome.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using stricken as the simple past tense
- Incorrect: She stricken the ball across the field.
- Correct: She struck the ball across the field.
2. Using stricken for a physical impact
- Incorrect: The tree was stricken by lightning.
- Correct: The tree was struck by lightning.
3. Confusing struck with stuck
- Incorrect: Lightning stuck the tree.
- Correct: Lightning struck the tree.
FAQs
1. Should I use struck or stricken?
Use struck for the simple past tense and most past-participle uses. Use stricken in expressions like grief-stricken and stricken with illness.
2. Is it correct to say grief-stricken or just stricken?
Grief-stricken is clear on its own. Stricken alone can work when the surrounding sentence makes the meaning clear.
3. What is another word for stricken?
Depending on context: distressed, devastated, afflicted, overcome.
4. What is another word for struck?
Depending on context: hit, affected, impressed, surprised.
5. What are the principal parts of strike?
Strike – struck – struck, with stricken as an alternative past participle.
Conclusion
Struck and stricken are both correct forms of strike, but they are not interchangeable. Use struck for the simple past tense and for physical impact, sudden events, ideas, and agreements.
Use stricken in established phrases such as grief-stricken, panic-stricken, and stricken with illness. In legal English, both struck from the record and stricken from the record are possible.
