zwingen

force

verb TSVING-en Less Common

Also means

compel

Usage Note

zwingen is a strong verb (zwingt, zwang, gezwungen) meaning to force someone to do something, used with zu: jemanden zu etwas zwingen. The participle gezwungen also works as an adjective meaning forced or strained, as in a gezwungenes Lächeln. Don't confuse it with zwingend, which means 'compelling' or 'mandatory'.

Examples

"Niemand kann dich dazu zwingen."

Natural Translation

Nobody can force you to do that.

Literal Translation

Nobody can you thereto force.

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