riddled

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "riddled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an adjective to refer to something that has a lot of a certain thing, usually either problems or holes. For example: "The old house was riddled with rot and mice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An interesting little study published this week by the consulting arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers found that the qualities needed in transformational leaders – the sort of strategists capable of rethinking an organisation riddled with cultural and existential problems, like banking after the crash or traditional industries threatened by upstart new rivals – are most commonly found in women over 55.

The Guardian - Opinion

Only I had been there to capture the moment my husband awoke the next morning and, despite being riddled with cancer, turned to me and whispered, "I can't believe how lucky I am".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

His statement to the immigration department in support of his bid for political protection is riddled with them.

The Guardian

After that, we stayed put and tried to sunbathe, but the place was riddled with flies and the retired British policeman next door kept asking if we were lesbians.

The Guardian - Film

The law on violence against the person is riddled with genuinely difficult arguments about whether such and such a victim was justified in striking back.

The Guardian - Sport

Cameron will only create a whole pile of bureaucracy that will affect everyone in the UK, cost the taxpayer millions and will still be riddled with loopholes and therefore totally ineffective.

The Guardian

McCarthy aimed to interrogate and root out the secret communists who he imagined riddled the ranks of the United States government, the military and other institutions.

The Guardian - Film

They have also seen pictures of the autopsy for the first time, showing Hazell's body "riddled with massive holes, like a Swiss cheese", said Joe.

The Guardian

At best, the measures of aggression that are used in such work are unstandardised; at worst, the field has been shown to be riddled with basic methodological and analytical flaws.

The Guardian

An unprecedented scheme to buy and demolish Canberra homes riddled with asbestos could begin as early as next week after parliament approved $750m for the project.

The Guardian

While I've managed to avoid the malaria, dengue fever and tuberculosis that's riddled my (male) colleagues, there are 101 things that make the rainforest a rather disagreeable place.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "riddled" to vividly describe pervasive negative conditions, such as "The contract was riddled with loopholes". This conveys a stronger sense of widespread problems than simply saying 'the contract had loopholes'.

Common error

Avoid using "riddled" to describe positive attributes. While grammatically correct, it often implies a negative connotation. Instead of saying 'The presentation was riddled with innovative ideas', opt for 'The presentation was full of innovative ideas'.

Linguistic Context

The word "riddled" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that they are affected or permeated extensively by something, often of a negative nature. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of "riddled" in written English as an adjective.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "riddled" functions as an adjective that indicates something is extensively affected by a specific attribute, usually something undesirable. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is usable and appropriate in written English. It often appears in neutral to formal contexts like news reports and professional documents to emphasize pervasiveness. While grammatically correct, consider its negative connotation and avoid overuse in positive contexts. Alternatives like "full of" or "abundant with" may be more appropriate in those instances. By understanding its grammatical role, communicative purpose, and contextual usage, you can employ "riddled" to enhance the expressiveness and precision of your writing. The frequent presence in news and business contexts highlights its importance in articulating widespread issues and problems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

replete with

Indicates being full or abundant with something, often used in a similar context to "riddled" when describing negative qualities.

infested with

Implies a troublesome presence or overrunning by unwanted elements, akin to "riddled" when referring to problems or issues.

permeated by

Suggests a widespread presence or influence, similar to "riddled" when something is thoroughly affected.

fraught with

Emphasizes being filled with difficulties or dangers, mirroring "riddled" in contexts involving negative circumstances.

overrun with

Indicates being excessively populated or affected by something, akin to "riddled" when describing negative issues.

beset by

Suggests being persistently troubled or harassed by something, similarly expressing a negative influence like "riddled".

plagued by

Implies consistent suffering or affliction, similar to "riddled" when describing persistent problems.

awash with

Suggests an abundance or oversupply of something, which can be comparable to "riddled" in certain negative contexts.

strewn with

Indicates being scattered or covered with something, which can relate to "riddled" when describing physical objects.

teeming with

Implies being full of or crowded with something, potentially sharing context with "riddled" when describing abundant issues.

FAQs

How can I use "riddled" in a sentence?

You can use "riddled" to describe something that is full of something undesirable, like "The old house was "riddled with termites"" or "The system was "riddled with corruption"".

What's a good substitute for "riddled"?

Alternatives to "riddled" include "replete with", "infested with", or "permeated by", depending on the specific context.

Is it okay to use "riddled" in a positive context?

While grammatically correct, "riddled" typically carries a negative connotation. It's better to choose alternatives like "full of" or "abundant with" for positive situations, as using "riddled" could unintentionally create a negative impression.

What does it mean when something is described as "riddled with holes"?

When something is described as "riddled with holes", it means that it has many holes or openings throughout its structure, often implying damage or weakness.