What does cornered mean?
'Cornered' is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'to corner,' meaning to trap a person, animal, or opponent in a position from which escape is impossible or extremely difficult. It can also function as an adjective describing something so confined, as in 'a cornered animal.' The word evokes urgency and desperation: a cornered creature has no room left to flee, which is why the term is widely used figuratively for people under pressure in politics, business, or personal conflict. A politician may be cornered by a pointed question during an interview, and an investor who has cornered the market holds such dominance over a commodity that competitors cannot act without their consent. The enduring phrase 'like a cornered rat' captures the idea that those with nothing to lose often fight hardest, making this a vivid word for moments when retreat is no longer an option.
Past tense and past participle of 'corner': to trap someone or something in a corner or confined space from which they cannot easily escape; figuratively, to force someone into a difficult position with no room for manoeuvre.
"Reporters cornered the senator outside the hearing room, demanding answers about the scandal."
Commonly used both literally (with animals) and figuratively (with people in debate, negotiation, or crisis).
Describing someone or something that has been driven into a position from which escape is impossible, typically implying desperate or defensive behaviour.
"The cornered wolf snarled at the hunters closing in around it."
A cornered rat will fight with such ferocity that 'cornered rat' became a proverbial warning: never underestimate someone who has nowhere left to run.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cornered
'Cornered' derives from 'corner,' which entered Middle English from Old French 'corniere' (corner), ultimately from Latin 'cornu,' meaning horn — the point of a horn being likened to an angle or projecting edge. The verb sense of driving someone into a corner developed naturally from the noun's spatial meaning, appearing in English usage several centuries after the noun itself. Cognates sharing the Latin root 'cornu' include 'unicorn,' 'cornea,' and 'cornet.'
Related word forms
How cornered is actually used
Often used figuratively in political, financial, and interpersonal contexts ('the minister was cornered on live television'). As a participial adjective ('a cornered animal', 'cornered prey'), it carries strong connotations of desperation and danger rather than mere capture. The phrase 'cornered the market' is an established idiom meaning achieving monopoly control of a commodity.
Easily confused with cornered
'Corner' is the noun for the point where two lines or surfaces meet, while 'cornered' is its verb form describing the act of trapping someone.
A coroner is an official who investigates deaths, whereas 'cornered' means trapped or driven into a corner.