Skip to content

Verbissenheit

grim determination

noun fer-BIS-en-hyt Rare
Mind & Emotions Attitudes

Also means

doggedness

Usage Note

Verbissenheit describes a tense, grim persistence, from sich verbeißen (to clamp onto). It carries a negative tinge of joyless obsession; the adverb verbissen modifies effort, verbissen kämpfen. Rarely pluralised.

Examples

"Mit Verbissenheit verfolgte er sein Ziel ohne jede Freude."

Natural Translation

He pursued his goal with grim determination and no joy.

Literal Translation

With grim-determination pursued he his goal without any joy.

Explore German by topic