displaced / repressed
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displaced
Replaced or removed from its place, position, or function by something or someone else.
Die kleinen Läden in der Innenstadt wurden durch große Ketten verdrängt.
The small shops in the city center were displaced by large chains.
'Verdrängt' (displaced/repressed) is the past participle of the verb 'verdrängen' (to displace, to repress). This consists of the prefix 'ver-' and the verb 'drängen' (to push, to press). The prefix 'ver-' here suggests removal or replacement, so literally 'to push away'.
Das neue Einkaufszentrum hat viele alte Geschäfte verdrängt.
The new shopping center displaced many old shops.
The meaning depends strongly on the context. In economic or ecological contexts, it is about replacement (m01). If the topic is psychology, feelings, or memories, the psychological meaning of repression (m02) is intended.
Handarbeit wurde zunehmend durch Maschinen verdrängt.
Handicrafts were increasingly displaced by machines.
When something or someone actively displaces something else, this is often expressed in a passive construction with the preposition 'durch'. The structure is: X wird durch Y verdrängt (X is displaced by Y).
Der traditionelle Brief wird immer mehr durch die E-Mail verdrängt.
The traditional letter is being displaced more and more by email.
In the psychological meaning, 'verdrängt' (repressed) is almost always combined with abstract nouns. Typical examples are 'verdrängte Erinnerungen' (repressed memories), 'verdrängte Gefühle' (repressed feelings), 'verdrängte Wünsche' (repressed desires), or 'verdrängte Konflikte' (repressed conflicts).
Im Traum können verdrängte Ängste wieder an die Oberfläche kommen.
In dreams, repressed fears can come back to the surface.
to forget
'vergessen' and 'verdrängt' can both have to do with not consciously remembering something. 'vergessen' is the normal word when a piece of information is simply no longer in your memory. 'Verdrängt' describes more that a memory or feeling has been unconsciously pushed away, often because it is painful or unpleasant. The words can be confused because the result seems similar: the person does not think about it. The difference is the reason: 'vergessen' can be very everyday, while 'verdrängt' sounds more psychological and serious.
Die verdrängte Erinnerung kam erst viele Jahre später wieder zurück.
The repressed memory only came back many years later.
Sie vergisst beim Lernen manchmal einfache Wörter, wenn sie müde ist.
When studying, she sometimes forgets simple words when she is tired.