Niederschlagen

Niederschlagen is a German verb with several related meanings centered on bringing something down or suppressing it. Primarily, it denotes defeating or subduing someone or something, either physically, as in a fight, or figuratively, such as quelling a rebellion, breaking up a demonstration, or dampening emotions or doubts. The verb is separable in the present tense: er schlägt ihn nieder, and in perfect tense the past participle is used with auxiliary haben, as in er hat ihn niedergeschlagen. In passive constructions one often encounters Der Aufstand wurde niedergeschlagen.

Etymology and forms: Nieder- means down, and schlagen means to strike. The combination originally described a physical strike but over time acquired broader senses of defeat and suppression. The past participle niedergeschlagen is also used as an adjective, for example in referring to a defeated or subdued opponent.

Usage notes: Niederschlagen carries a strong, sometimes forceful nuance and is common in historical or political contexts to describe the suppression of uprisings or protests. In more figurative language it can mean to dispel or blunt something, such as Zweifel oder Hoffnungen niederzuschlagen (to dispel doubts or dampen hopes). Depending on tone, it can imply violence or coercion, so choice of wording can affect the connotation.

Related terms include Niederlage (defeat) and Unterdrücken (to suppress). The noun Niederschlag (precipitation) exists in a different sense, though it shares the same root.