Bedrängnis

Bedrängnis is a German noun meaning distress, trouble, or oppression. It derives from the verb bedrängen, “to oppress” or “to press upon,” and denotes a state in which a person or group is under pressure, in danger, or morally or socially constrained. The sense can range from physical peril to psychological or existential strain, including situations of social harassment, bureaucratic pressure, or moral conflict.

Usage and nuance: In everyday language, Bedrängnis describes difficult circumstances, often with connotations of pressure and entanglement. Typical phrases include in Bedrängnis geraten (to fall into distress) and jemanden in Bedrängnis bringen (to put someone in distress). In religious, legal-historical, or political texts, the term can also carry the sense of persecution or hardship imposed by authorities or circumstances.

In literature and philosophy, Bedrängnis is a flexible descriptor for a character’s predicament or for social or systemic pressures that shape action and choice. It is not a fixed technical term, but a broad, evaluative expression used across genres to signal hardship or oppression.

See also: distress, oppression, persecution, burden.