verb

beuteln

hit · batter

Jemanden oder etwas heftig schütteln oder stark belasten.

Definition & meaning

Beuteln is a verb with several related meanings:

To shake or jolt violently.
Der Sturm beutelte das Schiff. — “The storm battered the ship.”
Figuratively, to afflict, batter, or put someone or something under severe strain. It can describe hardship, pressure, or financial difficulty.
Die Krise beutelt die Branche. — “The crisis is battering the industry.”
In older or technical usage, to sift flour through a special sieve.

Grammar & Word origin

Beuteln is a regular, weak verb: beutelt (present), beutelte (simple past), hat gebeutelt (present perfect). It is formed from Beutel , meaning “bag” or “sack,” with the verb ending -n. The original image is of shaking something in a bag or sieve.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms depend on the sense:

durchrütteln means to shake or jolt physically, and is more literal.
erschüttern means to shake or deeply unsettle; it can emphasize emotional or structural impact.
plagen means to trouble or torment, but does not necessarily imply the forceful impact of beuteln.
zusetzen means to wear someone down or cause hardship, often over time.
belasten means to burden or put under pressure, and is more neutral.