geknickt

Ge knickt is the past participle of the German verb knicken. It functions as an adjective or as part of a compound form and describes something that has been bent, folded, or deformed under pressure. In addition to literal use, geknickt can be used metaphorically to describe a person or a situation that has lost energy, strength, or resolve under strain.

In everyday language, geknickt commonly refers to physical objects, such as a wire, a branch, or a sheet that no longer is straight after being stressed. In engineering and mechanics, the related term knicken describes buckling under compression; a slender element may be described as geknickt after buckling. In such contexts, prefixes like ein- or um- (for example eingeknickt) are frequently used to specify the kind of deformation.

Figuratively, geknickt denotes emotional or psychological impact. A person can be described as geknickt after a setback, disappointment, or pressure, indicating a loss of morale or confidence. This usage is common in colloquial speech and journalism, and it tends to carry a negative or sympathetic nuance rather than a neutral one.

Etymologically, geknickt derives from the verb knicken, meaning to bend or fold. The form is widely attested in modern German and has productive use in both technical and everyday language. Related terms include eingeknickt (more common for describing a knee or a structure that buckled under load) and buckling-related vocabulary used in engineering discourse.