zerschmettern
to smash
To break something with great force or smash it into many pieces.
EXAMPLE
Der herabfallende Fels zerschmetterte das Auto.
The falling rock smashed the car.
zerschmettern
to smash / crush
zerschmettern – zerschmetterte – hat zerschmettert
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Meanings
zerschmettern
to crush
To defeat or destroy someone or something completely and decisively.
EXAMPLE
Die Mannschaft zerschmetterte ihre Gegner im Finale mit 6:0.
The team crushed their opponents 6–0 in the final.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry zerschmettern, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | zerschmettere zerschmettre |
|---|---|
| du | zerschmetterst |
| er/sie/es | zerschmettert |
| wir | zerschmettern |
| ihr | zerschmettert |
| sie | zerschmettern |
Simple past
| ich | zerschmetterte |
|---|---|
| du | zerschmettertest |
| er/sie/es | zerschmetterte |
| wir | zerschmetterten |
| ihr | zerschmettertet |
| sie | zerschmetterten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe zerschmettert |
|---|---|
| du | hast zerschmettert |
| er/sie/es | hat zerschmettert |
| wir | haben zerschmettert |
| ihr | habt zerschmettert |
| sie | haben zerschmettert |
Commands
| du | zerschmettere! zerschmetter!, zerschmettre! |
|---|---|
| ihr | zerschmettert! |
| Sie | zerschmettern Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte zerschmettert |
|---|---|
| du | hattest zerschmettert |
| er/sie/es | hatte zerschmettert |
| wir | hatten zerschmettert |
| ihr | hattet zerschmettert |
| sie | hatten zerschmettert |
Future
| ich | werde zerschmettern |
|---|---|
| du | wirst zerschmettern |
| er/sie/es | wird zerschmettern |
| wir | werden zerschmettern |
| ihr | werdet zerschmettern |
| sie | werden zerschmettern |
Subjunctive I
| ich | zerschmettere zerschmettre |
|---|---|
| du | zerschmetterst |
| er/sie/es | zerschmettere zerschmettre |
| wir | zerschmettern |
| ihr | zerschmettert |
| sie | zerschmettern |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | zerschmetterte |
|---|---|
| du | zerschmettertest |
| er/sie/es | zerschmetterte |
| wir | zerschmetterten |
| ihr | zerschmettertet |
| sie | zerschmetterten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | zerschmettern |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu zerschmettern |
| present participle | zerschmetternd |
| past participle | zerschmettert |
Usage tips
Word structure
'Zerschmettern' (to smash / crush) consists of 'zer-' and 'schmettern' (to slam / hurl). The inseparable prefix 'zer-' reinforces the idea of destruction and often indicates that something breaks into pieces.
EXAMPLE
Der schwere Hammer zerschmetterte den alten Stein.
The heavy hammer smashed the old stone.
Accusative object
'Zerschmettern' (to smash / crush) is normally used with an accusative object: a person, an object, or a force smashes or crushes something or someone.
EXAMPLE
Der Sturm zerschmetterte mehrere Fensterscheiben.
The storm smashed several windowpanes.
Typical collocations
In its literal sense, 'zerschmettern' (to smash) is often used with things that break on violent impact, such as glass, windows, or a vehicle.
EXAMPLE
Wütend zerschmetterte er das Glas an der Wand.
In a rage, he smashed the glass against the wall.
Context clue
When referring to an object that physically breaks, the meaning is literal. With abstract things or in a competitive context, 'zerschmettern' (to crush) describes a crushing defeat or destruction.
EXAMPLE
Der Skandal zerschmetterte den guten Ruf des Vereins.
The scandal crushed the club's good reputation.
Die Nachricht zerschmetterte seine letzten Hoffnungen.
The news crushed his last hopes.
In real life
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