Eksitavad

Eksitavad is a word in Estonian that appears in two related grammatical roles. As a form of the verb eksitada, it serves as the third-person plural present tense meaning “they mislead” or “they are misleading.” As an attributive adjective, eksitav has the plural nominative form eksitavad, used to describe something as misleading or deceptive (for example, eksitavad väited meaning “misleading claims,” or eksitav reklaam meaning “misleading advertisement”).

Etymology and related forms are tied to the verb eksitada, which conveys the act of causing someone to err or to form a false impression. The same word family yields eksitav as the base adjective meaning “misleading,” with plural form eksitavad when describing multiple nouns. Other related forms include eksitus (misdirection or error) and the adverbial or nominal derivatives that appear in more complex phrases.

Usage of eksitavad is common in journalism, law, education, and public discourse when referring to information, statements, or campaigns that may distort understanding. It can describe both explicit deception and less explicit or misleading presentation of facts. The term is neutral in itself but often carries evaluative tone depending on context, frequency, and the perceived impact of the misleading content.

In sum, eksitavad functions as both a verb form meaning “they mislead” and an adjective form meaning “misleading,” with usage centered on descriptions of deceptive or inaccurate information. See also eksitada (to mislead) and eksitus (error or deception) for related terminology in Estonian.