schwerwiegenden

Schwerwiegenden is a German adjective form derived from schwerwiegend, meaning serious, grave, or of great significance. The base adjective describes consequences, effects, or matters that are not light or trivial. The specific form schwerwiegenden is used in plural contexts when the noun it modifies appears with a determiner in certain cases.

In German, adjectives are declined to reflect number, case, and gender. Schwerwiegenden is the plural form used after definite determiners or when the noun is clearly specified, most commonly in the dative or accusative case. For example: die schwerwiegenden Folgen (the serious consequences) or mit den schwerwiegenden Folgen (with the serious consequences). Without a determiner, the plural form changes to schwerwiegende (e.g., schwere Folgen). Thus, schwerwiegenden is typical in phrases where the noun is plural and preceded by der/die/das or in fixed prepositional phrases.

Usage and meaning: Schwerwiegend conveys a high level of importance or impact. It is often used in journalism, law, policy, and academic writing to emphasize the severity of outcomes, injuries, damages, or implications. While synonyms like ernst, bedeutend, or gravierend may be used, schwerwiegend emphasizes gravity and lasting consequences more strongly.

Examples of common contexts include describing legal or medical outcomes, environmental or economic impacts, or social effects: schwerwiegende Schäden, schwerwiegende Folgen, schwerwiegende Auswirkungen. The term is generally considered formal or technical rather than everyday colloquial language. Understanding its plural form, schwerwiegenden, hinges on recognizing its role as a declined adjective describing plural nouns in specific grammatical cases.