English UsageGrammar guide

Riddled With: Standard Pattern

Riddled With: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than turning one attested complement into a universal prohibition.

Quick answer

Use “riddled with” when something contains many undesirable things, weaknesses, errors, or problems.

Key details

Confusion Familyusage-construction
Rule Familyadjective or complement construction
Termsriddled with

Further guidance

Construction

Use “riddled with” when something contains many undesirable things, weaknesses, errors, or problems.

Style Boundary

The construction is strongly associated with undesirable content or defects; this guide does not generalize it to neutral abundance expressions.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. RIDDLED | English meaning — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct Cambridge dictionary evidence for the construction “riddled with” when something contains many undesirable things or problems.

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