erdrücken
to crush
To crush or kill someone or something through great weight or strong pressure.
EXAMPLE
Die Schneemassen drohten das kleine Haus zu erdrücken.
The masses of snow threatened to crush the small house.
erdrücken
to crush / overwhelm
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Meanings
erdrücken
to overwhelm
To burden someone emotionally or psychologically so strongly that they feel overwhelmed and unfree.
EXAMPLE
Die Verantwortung für das Projekt schien ihn förmlich zu erdrücken.
The responsibility for the project seemed to literally overwhelm him.
erdrücken
to overwhelm
To suppress something or nip it in the bud through overwhelming superiority. Often used in connection with evidence or majorities.
EXAMPLE
Die erdrückende Beweislast führte schnell zu einem Schuldspruch.
The overwhelming burden of proof quickly led to a guilty verdict.
Usage tips
Word structure
'Erdrücken' (to crush/overwhelm) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'er-' often indicates a result or the completion of an action. Here it means to overwhelm or destroy someone or something through 'Drücken' (pressing).
EXAMPLE
Die umgestürzten Bäume haben das Auto unter sich erdrückt.
The fallen trees crushed the car beneath them.
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning from the subject. If the subject is something physical and heavy (e.g., 'die Lawine' — the avalanche), the literal meaning is intended. If it is abstract things like 'die Verantwortung' (the responsibility), 'die Sorgen' (the worries), or 'die Beweise' (the evidence), it has a figurative meaning.
EXAMPLE
Die Felsbrocken erdrückten die Bergstraße.
The boulders crushed the mountain road.
Psychological burden
In the psychological meaning, the passive voice is often used to emphasize the feeling of being overwhelmed. One is 'von' (by) something 'erdrückt' (overwhelmed).
EXAMPLE
Er fühlte sich von der Erwartungshaltung seiner Eltern erdrückt.
He felt overwhelmed by his parents' expectations.
Adjective 'erdrückend'
Especially in the meaning 'overwhelming', the present participle 'erdrückend' (overwhelming) is very frequently used as an adjective. Typical combinations are 'eine erdrückende Mehrheit' (an overwhelming majority) or 'erdrückende Beweise' (overwhelming evidence).
EXAMPLE
Gegen den Angeklagten gab es eine erdrückende Beweislast.
There was an overwhelming burden of proof against the defendant.
Compare with
erdrücken vs unterdrücken
to suppress
Both verbs can describe eliminating an opponent or group. Unterdrücken emphasizes deliberate control and preventing freedom or the exercise of rights, whereas erdrücken emphasizes overwhelming superiority that leaves little possibility for resistance. Choose erdrücken when the overwhelming force is the focus.
erdrücken
Die überwältigende Mehrheit erdrückt die kleine Oppositionsgruppe bei jeder Abstimmung.
The overwhelming majority overwhelms the small opposition group in every vote.
unterdrücken
Die Regierung unterdrückt die kleine Oppositionsgruppe und verbietet ihre öffentlichen Versammlungen.
The government suppresses the small opposition group and bans its public meetings.
In real life
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