Missriktad

Missriktad is a Swedish adjective meaning misdirected or misguided, used to describe actions, intentions, or feelings that are aimed in the wrong direction or are ill-placed. It can refer to both concrete targets and abstract aims.

Etymology and grammar: the word is formed from the prefix miss- (a negative prefix) and riktad (directed), from riktning (direction). The adjective inflects for gender and number: missriktad (common singular), missriktat (neuter singular), missriktade (plural). It is commonly used attributively, as in missriktad kärlek, and predicatively, as in vrede that is missriktad.

Usage and examples: missriktad is used across contexts to indicate that something is directed at the wrong target or is otherwise misplaced. Common collocations include missriktad kritik, missriktad vrede, missriktad tro, and missriktad ambition. Examples: “Hans missriktade vrede föll på fel person.” “Det var en missriktad satsning som missade målet.” In idiomatic use, the term often carries a nuance of judgment about the targeting rather than the intrinsic value of the action.

Translations and nuance: in English, closest equivalents are misdirected, misguided, or ill-aimed, chosen according to context. The term is widely understood in contemporary Swedish, including in journalism, literature, and everyday speech, where it helps distinguish intent or aim from outcomes.