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'Honey, you just ran a red light!'

DEFINITION: v. To unintentionally encourage bad behavior by responding to it in a manner that incites even worse behavior. n. A response designed to stop bad behavior, which paradoxically produces more of it.

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Verboticisms

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Naggravate

Created by: Tigger

Pronunciation: /NAG-ruh-veyt/

Sentence: Matt was normally an aggressive driver — he practiced 'offensive driving' rather than 'defensive driving' — and when his passengers complained it would only naggravate the situation. Unfortunately, Matt's girlfriend, Mona, still hadn't learned this, and their roadtrips would turn into white-knuckled rollercoaster rides of reckless driving and near accidents, which only grew worse as Mona's screams intensified.

Etymology: Nag - to annoy by persistent faultfinding, complaints, or demands (from Old Norse, gnaga "to complain") + Aggravate - to make worse or more severe; intensify; irritate (from Latin, aggravāre "to burden")

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COMMENTS:

Good word!! - TJayzz, 2008-05-20: 11:28:00

good word. love Mona. - galwaywegian, 2008-05-20: 10:28:00

Was her name Mona Lott? Good Word - Nosila, 2008-05-20: 22:40:00

Yes, it was! Do you know her too? - Tigger, 2008-05-21: 00:30:00

Good word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 01:20:00

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Intentevior

Created by: Issunrai

Pronunciation: In-ten-tave-eeh-or

Sentence: "You're playing those video games too much," she said. "You're just being intentevior!" said her son.

Etymology: "Intent" from "unintentionally" and "evior" from "behavior."

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Negatentional

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: neg-a-ten-shen-al

Sentence: As a teacher, Mary knew that negatentional responses were equal to posintentional ones to the kids who acted up to get her attention, although the results were disastrous for her classroom management. She soon realized that by nagging Kevin the same result would happen, Kevin would do the opposite of what she wanted to get a response from her. She decided to ignore the inappropriate behavior and reward him for proper behavior, just as she would her kindergarten children, in order for him to get posattention from her.

Etymology: negative: unfavorable or disconfirming + intentional: done deliberately + attention: notice or recognition. Teachers and trainers understand that to some children or animals negative attention is just as good as positive attention because it gives them the reward of recognition and response.

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COMMENTS:

Do I not lie it? Negatory! Good word. - Nosila, 2009-06-30: 17:31:00

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Disbehave

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: disbihāv

Sentence: When Barny thinks he is being nagged, he is sure to disbehave.

Etymology: dis (act or speak in a disrespectful way) + behave (fail to conduct oneself in a way that is acceptable to others; behave badly)

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Reverbirate

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: re - VERB - ihr - ate

Sentence: It seemed that whenever Consuelo would try to motivate her husband, Javier, to behave more civilly, her words would only reverbirate in some dark corner of his psyche and have the opposite effect with him responding in even more outrageous manner.

Etymology: blend of reverberate and irate

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Reitirate

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: re-IT-eye-rayt

Sentence: While she was well intentioned Muriel would invariably overdo her prodding to get Stan to do things her way and in the end would almost always reitirate, harping on a topic until Stan would just blow his cork.

Etymology: Blend of reiterate and irate.

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Motivile

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: mo-ti-vile

Sentence: On their last date, Lea learned why "motivile" rhymes with "juvenile." When she mentioned his bad driving habits he acted like he was fifteen years old, shouting out loud and being contrary by driving like a maniac.

Etymology: motivate:to provide an incentive for behavior + vile: loathsome, disgusting, contemptible

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Pacifry

Created by: splendiction

Pronunciation: pass i FRY

Sentence: Blaze was having a small melt down when the ice cream truck sped by their home too quickly. His parents inadvertently pacifried him with the comment that ice cream from ice cream trucks, "is bad for you anyway." Blaze's melt down progressed into a full blown explosive fit of stamping, arm-flinging, and fiery-hot tearful cries: "BUD I WANNED NICE-CREAM!"

Etymology: A blend of PACIFY and FRY, overdo to the point of ruin.

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Crazydriver

Created by: Andrew98

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

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Misscipline

Created by: bookowl

Pronunciation: miss/i/plin

Sentence: Missipline is the result of misplaced discipline.

Etymology: discipline + miss

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-05-20: 00:00:01
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's observation that if we are going to use "progressive animal training techniques" on humans, that we simply need to reward behavior we want and ignore behavior we don't. Of course this is easier said than done, and requires a great deal of self-awareness and self-discipline. In fact, Amy calls it the "Zen of Animal Training". See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-06-30: 00:00:01
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's observation that if we are going to use "progressive animal training techniques" on humans, that we simply need to reward behavior we want and ignore behavior we don't. Of course this is easier said than done, and requires a great deal of self-awareness and self-discipline. In fact, Amy calls it the "Zen of Animal Training". See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-07-20: 00:00:00
Today's definition was suggested by amysutherland. Thank you amysutherland. ~ James

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