cornered
Americanadjective
-
having corners (usually used in combination).
a six-cornered room.
-
having a given number of positions; sided (usually used in combination).
a four-cornered debate.
-
forced into an awkward, embarrassing, or inescapable position.
a cornered debater; a cornered fox.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of cornered
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at corner, -ed 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We’re frankly confused how Auchincloss cornered himself into this one.
From Slate • May 30, 2026
Vietnam has cornered the market on robusta since emerging from its war in the 1970s.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
“Blocking the strait isn’t in anyone’s interest, including Iran’s. But if they feel that they’re cornered, they’ll do it. And they have the logistics to do it,” said Bader Al-Saif, an academic at Kuwait University.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026
After authorities cornered the mountain lion in a tight area between two apartment buildings, the operation to remove it became a spectacle, with neighbors watching from windows and balconies, the outlet reported.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026
“I charge six bolts,” I said, feeling I had cornered him.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
