-ridden

/ˈɹɪdən/[ˈɹɪdn̩]

suffix

Figuratively construed as “repeatedly/perennially affected by” or “unable to escape from”.

“bug + -ridden → bug-ridden”

Similar
lousy withriddled with-riddled
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Meanings

suffix
  1. Figuratively construed as “repeatedly/perennially affected by” or “unable to escape from”.

    bug + -ridden → bug-ridden

    2 more examples

    crime + -ridden → crime-ridden

    He could also fulfill his campaign promise to launch the “largest deportation operation in American history,” targeting millions of people in an abuse-ridden process that would inevitably lead to the mistaken detention of thousands of U.S. citizens.

    2025 February 11, Steven Levitsky, Lucan A. Way, “The Path to American Authoritarianism”, in Foreign Affairs, archived from the original on 12 Feb 2025

    Synonyms: lousy with, riddled with, -riddled

Synonyms & antonyms

suffixFiguratively construed as “repeatedly/perennially affected by” or “unable to escape from”.

Similar
lousy withriddled with-riddled
Also see
lousyriddled

Origin

Back-formation from bedridden.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

-ridden. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ridden

MLA

“-ridden.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ridden. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-ridden,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ridden.

Source: -ridden on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.