zerdrückst

Zerdrückst is the second-person singular present tense form of the German verb zerdrücken. The verb means to crush or squash something by applying pressure until it loses its shape. It can describe a literal action, such as pressing a fruit or a piece of clay too hard, as well as a figurative one, such as crushing someone’s hopes or suppressing resistance.

Etymology and usage notes: Zerdrücken is formed from the prefix zer- combined with drücken (to press). The prefix zer- conveys destruction or breaking apart, giving the sense of complete damage rather than a light or partial press. In everyday speech you can encounter both literal and figurative uses.

Conjugation and grammar: As the base form, zerdrücken, is conjugated in the present tense as ich zerdrücke, du zerdrückst, er/sie/es zerdrückt, wir zerdrücken, ihr zerdrückt, sie zerdrücken. The form zerdrückst specifically appears in the second-person singular present tense when addressing someone directly with you.

Examples: Du zerdrückst die Banane, wenn du zu fest drückst. Die Nachricht zerdrückt seine Hoffnungen. In figurativen contexts, zerdrücken often implies decisive or irreversible damage rather than mere compression.

Related terms: drücken, zerquetschen (to squish/crush with emphasis on thorough squashing), zerschmettern (to smash). Zerdrücken shares with these verbs a sense of destruction or severe damage, but with distinct nuances depending on whether the context is physical or metaphorical.

See also: German verbs with prefix zer- that indicate destruction or breakdown, and comparison with other German verbs of similar meaning such as zerbrechen (to break apart) and zerstören (to destroy).