aplastante

Aplastante is an adjective in Spanish used to describe something that has the quality of crushing or flattening, or that produces a crushing effect either literally or figuratively. The term comes from the verb aplastar, to crush or flatten. As an adjective, it agrees in gender and number: aplastante (masculine singular), aplastante (feminine singular), aplastantes (plural).

In literal usage, aplastante refers to forces, weights, or devices that physically crush or compress. Examples include una presión aplastante, un peso aplastante, or una máquina que ejerce una carga aplastante. In a figurative sense, it describes overwhelming or decisive effects, such as una evidencia aplastante, una derrota aplastante, una ventaja aplastante, or una mayoría aplastante.

In science and engineering, the phrase "prueba aplastante" or "ensayo de aplastamiento" designates compression tests that determine how much load a material can bear before failure. The term also appears in journalism and politics to characterize argumentos, datos o situaciones que dejan poco o ningún margen de duda.

Common synonyms in context include contundente and abrumador, though cada uso puede preferir un matiz distinto. The noun related to the action is aplastamiento, referring to the act or effect of crushing.

See also: aplastamiento, aplastar, presión. English translations vary by context and include crushing, overwhelming, or overwhelming force.