"Stricken" is a word that often carries negative connotations, indicating a strong feeling of sorrow or hardship. Synonyms for "stricken" include "afflicted", "plagued", "suffering", "tormented", "agonized", and "wretched". These words evoke a sense of pain, suffering, or difficulty. Other similar words include "bereaved", "devastated", "heartbroken", "grieving", "anguished", and "mournful". Using any of these synonyms can help to add emotional weight to a sentence or description and convey the severity of a situation. Whether used in literature, poetry, or everyday language, these words can help to paint a vivid picture of the human experience.