Vääristelty

Vääristelty is a Finnish adjective meaning distorted or misrepresented. It describes information, images, data, or statements that have been altered from their original form, potentially changing their meaning or accuracy. The word is derived from the verb vääristää (to distort or misrepresent) and is commonly used in attributive position, as in vääristelty tieto (distorted information) or vääristelty kuva (distorted image). It can also be used predicatively with the appropriate verb form.

Etymology and related forms: The noun vääristely denotes distortion or misrepresentation; related verbs include vääristää (to distort) and vääristellä (to distort in various ways). The prefix väär- signals falsehood or deviation from accuracy, and the suffix -ty marks the past passive participle, which is used to form adjectives.

Usage: Vääristelty is common in journalism, academia, and public discourse to indicate that a representation does not faithfully reflect reality. It often implies some degree of alteration, whether intentional or inadvertent, though the degree of culpability depends on context. It is distinct from väärennetty (forged) and from epäilyttävä, as its nuance centers on alteration of representation rather than creation of a counterfeit.

Examples: Esimerkkejä ovat vääristelty tieto ja vääristelty kuva. In such phrases, the term signals that the presented form diverges from the source or original.

See also: vääristely, väärennös, väärä.