maanittelavat

Maanittelavat is the present active participle form of the Finnish verb maanitella, meaning to slander or defame. In usage, it functions as an adjective describing plural subjects or statements that engage in slander, as in maanittelavat väitteet (slanderous allegations) or maanittelavat kommentit (slanderous comments). The form combines the stem maanittel- with the participial suffix -ava and the plural ending -vat.

Etymology and nuance: The root conveys spreading false or damaging claims about a person or group. The participle can describe actions, conduct, or content perceived as defamatory. It is common in journalistic, political, and academic Finnish when characterizing rhetoric or rumors regarded as defamatory. The term is descriptive and does not itself decide legality; it often signals that the statements in question may be defamatory and potentially actionable under defamation law.

Usage examples:

- Maanittelavat väitteet levisivät verkossa. (The slanderous allegations spread online.)

- Hän julkaisi maanittelavat kommentit poliittisesta kilpailusta. (He posted slanderous comments about the political race.)

See also: maanittelija (a person who slanders), maanittelu (defamation), kunnianloukkaus (defamation law). The word is neutral in tone but frequently appears in discussions about reputation, media ethics, and legal standards related to false statements about individuals or groups.

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