Stricken by is a phrase that conveys a sense of being suddenly or intensely affected by something, usually negative or tragic. There are many synonyms that can be used to convey this same meaning, such as afflicted, affected, bereaved, devastated, distressed, gripped by, gutted, hit, impaired, pained, shocked, stunned, touched by, and troubled by. Each of these words can be used to describe a range of emotional states that one might experience when faced with a difficult or traumatic event. Using synonyms effectively can help writers to convey complexity and nuance in their writing, by choosing the right word to fit the context and tone of their work.