Word Adjective
cornered
adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈkɔɹnɝd/ UK /kˈɔːnəd/ cor·nered
Definition
adj.feeling trapped in a place or a situation where you have no way to escape.
adj.forced into a position or situation from which there is no escape. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'look'.
Examples
“The fox felt cornered when it saw the fence.”
“The politician felt cornered by the reporter's sharp questions and struggled to find a way to change the subject.”
“When the company's primary investor withdrew support, the CEO felt cornered, realizing that filing for bankruptcy was now the only viable path forward.”
Usage
Commonly follows linking verbs such as 'feel', 'look', or 'seem'.
Real-world usage
“Vietnam has cornered the market on robusta since emerging from its war in the 1970s.”
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated