Vote for the best verboticism.
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.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
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Exacerbait
Created by: theCountess
Pronunciation: ex ass er bate
Sentence: Jill would constantly exacerbait Jack to complete exasperation; I think that's why he's now her ex.
Etymology: Exacerbate & Bait
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COMMENTS:
Good one - Nosila, 2010-07-21: 00:15:00
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Modifail
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: mod/i/fail
Sentence: As a teacher, I sometimes modifail when a student over reacts in a negative way to an attempted behaviour modifcation causing even further trouble in class.
Etymology: modify + fail
Contradick
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: käntrədik
Sentence: Katy has just about had it with her boyfriend. He is such a contradick. Whenever she suggests a change to his behavior, he re-doubles his bad behavior to prove his independence.
Etymology: contradictory (mutually opposed or inconsistent) + dick (slang: jerk)
Dissuascalation
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: dis-sway-sca-lay-shun
Sentence: Bobby, just ignore your brother. You know that when you tell him not to swear he just tells you to f&*$ #$%&&% )!!@^&$$. I know you mean well, but it's just a dissuascalation.
Etymology: dissuasion (discouragement) + escalation (increase, especially in the case of military escalation where every action is responded to with greater force)
Fortidefy
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: fôrtədifī
Sentence: Joanne knows all about the concept of reverse psychology. It is easy for her to get her children and husband to do what she wants by getting them to fortidefy her nagging.
Etymology: fortify (strengthen or invigorate) + defy (openly resist or refuse to obey)
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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Misscipline
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: miss/i/plin
Sentence: Missipline is the result of misplaced discipline.
Etymology: discipline + miss
Habetual
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: ha bet ual
Sentence: Joanie nagged at Chachi when he drove, which drove him insane. She failed to under stand that her habetual commentary on his poor driving habits made him a worse driver. It would have probably worked better if she had actually had a driving license of her own before passing such critiques on his driving skills...
Etymology: Habitual (commonly used or practiced; usual) & Abet (assist or encourage, usually in wrongdoing)
Reverbirate
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: re-VERB-eye-rayt
Sentence: It seemed that whenever Cindy would try to motivate her husband, Charlie, 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' (echo) and 'irate' (angry)
Modifail
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: mod/i/fail
Sentence: As a teacher, I sometimes modifail when a student over reacts in a negative way to an attempted behaviour modifcation causing even further trouble in class.
Etymology: modify + fail
Comments:
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
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
Today's definition was suggested by amysutherland. Thank you amysutherland. ~ James
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