Epäonnistuneesti

Epäonnistuneesti is a Finnish adverb meaning “in an unsuccessful manner” or “unfortunately.” It is used to describe the manner in which an action was performed or a process unfolded, rather than focusing solely on the outcome. The word is formed from the verb epäonnistua (to fail) with the negating prefix epä- and the adverbial suffix -sti, yielding a description of manner.

Etymology and form: The base verb epäonnistua conveys failure, and the corresponding adverb epäonnistuneesti indicates that something was carried out in a way that ends in failure. The related adjective epäonnistunut means “failed” or “unsuccessful,” while epäonnistuminen refers to the act or state of failure.

Usage: epäonnistuneesti is commonly used with verbs of action in formal or literary contexts, as well as in journalism or narrative prose, to convey how an action proceeded rather than just its result. In everyday speech, more general terms like huonosti or epäonnisesti may be used, but epäonnistuneesti specifies the manner of execution and emphasizes the failure of the process.

Related terms: The verb form epäonnistua, the noun epäonnistuminen, and the adjective epäonnistunut are closely connected. These related forms help express different aspects of failure, from the act itself to its outcome and to the quality of execution.

See also: In Finnish usage, the distinction between describing a failed outcome (epäonnistuminen, epäonnistunut) and describing the manner of execution (epäonnistuneesti) can influence tone and emphasis, especially in formal writing or analytical contexts.

Example sentences:

- Hanke eteni epäonnistuneesti, eikä lopputulosta voitu saavuttaa suunnitelmien mukaan.

- Kokeilu tehtiin epäonnistuneesti, jolloin tuloksia ei voitu luotettavasti toistaa.