Negatiivselt

Negatiivselt is an Estonian adverb meaning “in a negative way” or “negatively.” It is formed from the adjective negatiivne (negative) by adding the typical Estonian adverbial suffix -selt, producing negatiivselt. The word is used to describe the manner of an action, the tone of a statement, or the direction of a change or effect.

In usage, negatiivselt characterizes how something is done or how something affects outcomes, attitudes, or evaluations. It is common in everyday language as well as in scientific, journalistic, and analytical writing. For example, it can describe a response, a forecast, or a result: a person can react negatiivselt to a suggestion, or a study can find outcomes that are negatiivselt correlated with a risk factor. The term often appears in phrases such as negatiivselt hinnatud (evaluated negatively), negatiivselt mõjunud (having a negative impact), or negatiivselt seotud (negatively related).

The word carries a qualitative sense and is distinct from its adjective counterpart in that negatiivselt specifically modifies verbs and other predicates rather than functioning as a simple description. While synonyms like kahjulikult or halvasti can convey similar ideas in some contexts, negatiivselt emphasizes the directional or evaluative aspect of the action or effect.

Overall, negatiivselt is a concise linguistic tool for conveying that something proceeds, is perceived, or affects outcomes in a negative manner.