kompromittieren
compromise
Definition & meaning
Kompromittieren is a German verb meaning to compromise, incriminate, discredit, or put someone in an embarrassing or dangerous position.
It is mainly used in two related ways:
-
To damage someone’s reputation or expose them negatively
- Die Veröffentlichung kompromittierte den Politiker.
“The publication compromised the politician.”
- Die Veröffentlichung kompromittierte den Politiker.
-
To expose someone to suspicion, danger, or legal consequences
- Die Beweise könnten ihn kompromittieren.
“The evidence could incriminate or compromise him.”
- Die Beweise könnten ihn kompromittieren.
With a reflexive pronoun, sich kompromittieren means to compromise or discredit oneself:
- Durch seine widersprüchlichen Aussagen hat er sich selbst kompromittiert.
“Through his contradictory statements, he compromised himself.”
The word often has a more serious and formal tone than simply saying that someone has made a bad impression.
Grammar & Word origin
Kompromittieren is a regular, weak verb.
- Infinitive: kompromittieren
- Present tense: ich kompromittiere
- Simple past: ich kompromittierte
- Perfect tense: ich habe kompromittiert
- Past participle: kompromittiert
It is normally used with an accusative object:
It can also be used reflexively:
The word is borrowed through French from Latin compromittere, originally meaning “to make a mutual promise.” In modern German, its meaning is connected with exposing someone to embarrassment, suspicion, or reputational damage. It does not contain a productive German prefix and stem in the usual modern sense.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- bloßstellen — to expose or embarrass someone publicly; it focuses more on public humiliation.
- diskreditieren — to discredit someone’s reputation or credibility; it often suggests deliberate damage to someone’s standing.
- belasten — to incriminate or implicate someone, especially through evidence; it is more closely associated with legal or factual evidence.
- in Schwierigkeiten bringen — to get someone into trouble; this is more general and less formal.
- in Verruf bringen — to bring someone into disrepute; it emphasizes loss of public respect.
Antonyms
There is no single exact antonym in every context. Depending on the meaning, possible opposites include:
- rehabilitieren — to restore someone’s reputation after it has been damaged.
- entlasten — to exonerate or relieve someone from suspicion or blame.
- schützen — to protect someone from exposure, danger, or reputational damage.
- entlastende Beweise vorlegen — to present exculpatory evidence.
Common phrases & collocations
- jemanden politisch kompromittieren — to compromise someone politically
- jemanden schwer kompromittieren — to seriously compromise someone
- sich selbst kompromittieren — to compromise oneself
- kompromittierende Informationen — compromising information
- kompromittierendes Material — compromising material
- kompromittierte Daten — compromised data; in the context of cybersecurity, this means data that has been exposed, accessed, or tampered with.
Make “kompromittieren” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Sie kompromittieren ihre Integrität nicht.verb
They do not compromise their integrity.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad