Upålideligt

Upålideligt is a Danish adjective meaning not trustworthy or not reliable. It is used to describe statements, sources, information, or objects that cannot be depended on or taken at face value. The term is common in journalism, research, and everyday language when credibility is in question.

Etymology and form

The word is built from the prefix up- (not) combined with Pålitelig, the Danish word for reliable. The result is upålideligt (neuter singular) or upålidelig (common gender and masculine/feminine singular), with typical plural forms such as upålidelige for nouns in plural or after certain determiners. The exact spelling adapts to the gender and number of the noun it modifies, as in et upålideligt dokument (a) and upålidelige kilder (unreliable sources).

Usage

Upålideligt is used across contexts to flag credibility problems. It can describe a person who cannot be trusted, a source whose claims are dubious, or data and methods that fail to meet standards of reliability. In academic and journalistic writing, it often appears in assessments of credibility, evidence quality, or methodological soundness. It is generally neutral in tone, but can carry a negative evaluative implication depending on context.

Examples

- Denne kilde er upålidelig. (This source is unreliable.)

- Et upålideligt dokument kræver yderligere verifikation. (An unreliable document requires further verification.)

- Rapporten indeholder upålidelige oplysninger. (The report contains unreliable information.)

Related terms

Synonyms and near-opposites include tvivlsom (doubtful), utroværdig (in Danish: unbelievable or untrustworthy), and pålidelig (reliable). In Danish discourse, upålideligt often pairs with critical scrutiny of sources, data integrity, and the reliability of claims.