vertuscht

Vertuscht is a German adjective and the past participle of the verb vertuschen, meaning to conceal or hush up information, to cover up wrongdoing or misrepresentation. The corresponding noun is Vertuschung, meaning a cover-up.

Usage in contemporary language is common in political, corporate, and media discourse, where it describes deliberate concealment of facts or manipulation of information. The term carries the sense of intent to mislead or distort the truth, though it can also be used descriptively for past actions without asserting motive.

Examples of usage include sentences like: Die Regierung hat die Ergebnisse vertuscht. or Die Vertuschung des Skandals wurde aufgedeckt.

Etymology is generally understood as the verb being formed with the prefix ver- attached to a root related to deception; the precise historical origin of the component is not widely discussed in ordinary usage.

Related terms in German include verheimlichen (to withhold or conceal), verschweigen (to suppress or keep silent), and täuschen (to deceive). In legal contexts, Vertuschung can refer to the concealment of a crime or obstruction of investigations, with penalties varying by jurisdiction.