riddled

Adjective

riddled (comparative more riddled, superlative most riddled)

1. (also, figuratively) Damaged throughout by holes.
   • When the legislation was debated by the House of Commons, Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said it was "riddled with holes", while former Conservative Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was "badly written".2024 March 20, Conrad Landin, “"Farcical" Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act isn't working”, in RAIL, number 1005, page 25
2. Taking a noun complement construed with the preposition with.
   • The minister claimed that the old benefits system was riddled with abuse and fraud.
   • Riddled with guilt for having failed to oppose the project, Zac sacrifices himself by driving the truck into the lab, detonating the explosives at the same time as the Effect reoccurs.2013, Barry Keith Grant, 100 Science Fiction Films, page 121

   Synonyms:

   lousy

3. Taking a noun complement that precedes the adjective, forming a compound.
   • a hole-riddled sweater
   • They took a swig each from an old bottle of sherry and ate some stale digestive biscuits sealed in a tin in the mouse-riddled cupboards.2008, Joan London, The Good Parents, Random House Australia, →ISBN, page 235

   Synonyms:

   -ridden