Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. An invented word which appears learned, sounds sophisticated, and is completely confusing. v.intr. To use invented words in order to confuse others, and/or create the illusion of erudition.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Grandiloquersatz
Created by: Lapper
Pronunciation: grand-ILL-oh-KWER-sats
Sentence: Mike mentioned to Jessica that Dr. Jim's "fancy medical jargon" really meant nothing; that he was grandiloquersatzing the whole thing, but she just looked at him as though some irony had passed over his head.
Etymology: Grandiloquent and ersatz.
Fauxcabulary
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: foe-cab-you-lair-ee
Sentence: i impressed a lot of people with my fauxcabulary
Etymology: faux, vocabulary
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COMMENTS:
Faux shore! - Clayton, 2007-06-26: 02:44:00
i'm a bit disappointed in myself... faux is one of the most used tricks in the verbotoverse... faux and shun... i try to avoid them where possible but sometimes they demand that i use them - rikboyee, 2007-06-26: 03:48:00
most unfouxshunable - galwaywegian, 2007-06-26: 05:50:00
unfauxshunable! I meant unfauxshunable - galwaywegian, 2007-06-26: 05:51:00
I shun think it's that big a deal, faux what it's worth. - Clayton, 2007-06-26: 07:18:00
Fauxbulous! - purpleartichokes, 2007-06-26: 12:11:00
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Semanthick
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: semm ant hick
Sentence: his use of semanthicks at every opportunity was nonundiscomfitational.
Etymology: semantic, thick
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COMMENTS:
Good one. Semantrick would work too. - petaj, 2007-06-26: 07:59:00
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Psuedoverbotism
Created by: texmom
Pronunciation: soo dough verb aht sim
Sentence: Her use of psuedoverbotism fooled no one when she used the word psuedoverbotism to describe her own ignorance.
Etymology: psuedo - false verbotism - making up words
Spintaxation
Created by: Clayton
Pronunciation: spin-tak-SEY-shuhn
Sentence: Horace's frequent bouts of culinary spintaxation included such neologistical wonders as "parcinnamonious," "hebetaters," and "porkabella."
Etymology: spin + syntax + taxation
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COMMENTS:
Mmm! I like righteous parsnips with herbed potatoes and pretty pork chops. - petaj, 2007-06-26: 03:02:00
inchewbitably! - galwaywegian, 2007-06-26: 06:17:00
Inthefatigobbly! - Clayton, 2007-06-26: 07:09:00
without a kraut - petaj, 2007-06-26: 07:55:00
your sentence confused me enough to get my vote - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-26: 14:45:00
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Brainyyak
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: brainy/yak
Sentence: All the brainyyak at the conference was driving me crazy, plus I had a stiff neck from nodding in agreement to all the babble.
Etymology: brainy + yak + braniac
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COMMENTS:
was it a tibethinkthank? - galwaywegian, 2007-06-26: 06:15:00
Tibet it was. - Clayton, 2007-06-26: 07:15:00
And brainiac should be in the etymology. - petaj, 2007-06-26: 07:57:00
thanks petaj - I spent so much time trying to figure out a new word for the classic cartoon only to find I couldn't put in a new one. This was done in a big hurry. - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-26: 08:45:00
I assume the emphasis is on yak rather than brainy... - wordmeister, 2007-06-26: 14:35:00
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Dictturb
Created by: remistram
Pronunciation: dik-turrb
Sentence: The lesson on "Make dictturbition work for you" was the final chapter in the strategic planning process.
Etymology: dict (dictum) + disturb
Esoterologism
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ɛsəˈtɛɹəloʊˌdʒɪzm/
Sentence: Esoterologisms seldom win in Verbotomy.
Etymology: From esoteric + logism (as in neologism)
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COMMENTS:
We'll have to see what we can do to change that, then, won't we? Good word. - Clayton, 2007-06-26: 02:43:00
But this is so clear and not confusing that it can't be an example of a esoterologism. - petaj, 2007-06-26: 02:46:00
Ah, but a word sometimes appears learned and sound sophisticated because it actually is learned and sophisticated, and amazingly enough, this doesn't actually prevent it from being completely confusing. The obtainment of obfuscation is not mutually exclusive with technical accuracy. - ErWenn, 2007-06-27: 00:57:00
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Blabbergast
Created by: ziggy41
Pronunciation: Bla-burr-gast
Sentence: It's her lifetime goal to disorient everyone she meets using her master skills at blabbergasting.
Etymology: Blabber (speak nonsensically) + flabbergast (greatly astonish)
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COMMENTS:
flabulous - galwaywegian, 2007-06-26: 05:58:00
Indeflabigably! - Clayton, 2007-06-26: 07:11:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by shutz. Thank you shutz! ~ James
Verbotoweek: Rikboyee gets a Science Fiction Verbotomy.