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zerknautscht

crumpled up, badly crushed

adjective tser-KNOWTSHT Rare

Usage Note

Zerknautscht describes fabric or soft material that has been thoroughly crumpled — zerknautschte Kleidung. Applied to a face it informally means looking tired and crumpled, as if one slept badly.

Examples

"Das zerknautschte Hemd aus dem Koffer sah so aus, als hätte er es monatelang darin gelagert."

Natural Translation

The crumpled shirt from the suitcase looked as though he had stored it there for months.

Literal Translation

The crumpled shirt from the suitcase looked as if he had stored it there for months.

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