das Verschweigen, –
conceal
Etwas absichtlich nicht sagen, obwohl man davon weiß.
Definition & meaning
Verschweigen can be the noun das Verschweigen (“concealment” or “the act of keeping something secret”) or the capitalized form of the verb verschweigen at the start of a sentence.
The verb means to deliberately withhold information, not to tell someone something, or to keep something secret. It often suggests that the information is important or that someone is expected to disclose it.
Grammar & Word origin
As a verb, verschweigen is strong and inseparable:
- Present: verschweigt
- Simple past: verschwieg
- Past participle: verschwiegen
- Perfect tense: hat verschwiegen
It commonly takes the thing withheld as an accusative object and the person kept uninformed as a dative object: jemandem etwas verschweigen (“to conceal something from someone”).
The verb combines the prefix ver- with schweigen (“to be silent”). The prefix contributes the sense of keeping something undisclosed. The noun das Verschweigen refers to the act or practice of withholding information.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- verheimlichen — to hide or keep something secret; very close in meaning, often emphasizing secrecy.
- geheim halten — geheim halten — to keep something secret; emphasizes maintaining secrecy over time.
- unterschlagen — to withhold or omit something, often information or an item one is expected to report or return; can have a stronger, sometimes legal, implication.
Antonyms:
- offenlegen — to disclose or reveal information, often formally.
- mitteilen — to communicate or inform someone; more neutral and broader than verschweigen.
- gestehen — to confess or admit something, especially something one has done or kept secret.
Common phrases & collocations
- jemandem die Wahrheit verschweigen — to conceal the truth from someone. Wahrheit
- wichtige Informationen verschweigen — to withhold important information. Informationen
- etwas absichtlich verschweigen — to deliberately keep something undisclosed. absichtlich
- sein Schweigen brechen — to break one’s silence; a related expression using Schweigen .
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Examples
Er hat die Wahrheit verschwiegen.noun
He has concealed the truth.
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