petolliset

Petolliset is the nominative plural form of the Finnish adjective petollinen, meaning deceitful, treacherous, or fraudulent. It is used to describe people, actions, or things that involve deception or unreliability.

Etymology and form: The word stems from the noun petos, meaning deception or fraud, and the adjective-forming suffix -llinen. In Finnish, the plural nominative form of petollinen is petolliset, which agrees with plural nouns such as lupaukset (promises) or käytännöt (practices). The singular form is petollinen, and the adverbial form is petollisesti.

Usage: Petolliset carries a strong negative evaluation and is common in formal, journalistic, and literary Finnish. It can describe persons, institutions, or procedures that deliberately mislead or betray trust. While it can refer to a broad range of deceit, the term is typically reserved for more deliberate or systematic deceit rather than minor or accidental faults.

Examples:

- Petolliset lupaukset ovat rikkoneet monien luottamuksen. (Deceptive promises have shattered many people’s trust.)

- Yritys paljasti petolliset käytännöt ja joutui oikeudellisiin seuraamuksiin. (The company uncovered fraudulent practices and faced legal consequences.)

See also: petollisuus, vilpillisyys, epäluotettavuus, petos.