Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To make something worse while attempting to make it better. n. A bad improvement.
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.
Malhancement
Created by: OZZIEBOB
Pronunciation: mal-HANS-ment
Sentence: The best laid plans of mice and men often end in malhancement.
Etymology: Combination of MAL:bad, badly, wrong,wrongly & HANCEMENT:to make greater,as in value, beauty, effectiveness; provide with improved features.
Remuddle
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: ree - MUDL
Sentence: Wilford had set out to completely redesign and redo the interior of his home but lacking proper skills and experience his effort turned out to be a hideous remuddle rather than the upgrade he had envisioned.
Etymology: Blend of remodel and muddle...to mix up in a confused or bungling manner
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COMMENTS:
excellent - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-15: 11:41:00
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Wimprovement
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: wim proov ment
Sentence: When Cathy met Todd in High School, he was a brawny fellow, but lacking in refinement. Ten years later, they were wed, had 2 kids and Todd was now a big pudding of a man who was so whipped and broken by the demanding Cathy. She considered Todd her greatest wimprovement.
Etymology: Wimp (a person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy) & Improvement (betterment;change;progress)
Shedit
Created by: ZenoX
Pronunciation: shed it
Sentence: She went to a plastic surgeon the other day and shedited her nose. She was telling me all about that present she'll never afford now. Wait till she hears about her embarrassing shedit. She'll probably never admit her mistake.
Etymology: A shit edit, a change that should be hid in a dark place (shed).
Faltercation
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: fal/tur/cay/shun
Sentence: The alteration quickly became a faltercation once the bandages came off in the doctor's office.
Etymology: alter + falter + the ensuing altercation
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COMMENTS:
Sounds like some of my home improvement projects. lol - Mustang, 2008-05-15: 21:46:00
Excellent blend! - Tigger, 2008-05-15: 23:31:00
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Badderment
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: bad-er-ment
Sentence: The government's social engineering activities were well intentioned but ended up for the badderment of all. It was really more like woeful engineering.
Etymology: bad + betterment
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COMMENTS:
Good one! - Mustang, 2008-05-15: 21:47:00
Oh, this word works nicely! Good job. - Tigger, 2008-05-15: 23:33:00
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Reekonstruction
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: reek on struk shun
Sentence: "how do you feel after your latest reekonstruction, mr Jackson?" the waiting media asked. "I'm bad" he said, "I'm bad"
Etymology: reek as in stinking, reconstruction
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COMMENTS:
nice reference to MJ - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-15: 11:45:00
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Oddify
Created by: rebelvin
Pronunciation: ODD+modIFY
Sentence: Instead of helping her appearance overall, her nose job only oddified her face, leaving you with a faint impression of disgust.
Etymology: ODD+modIFY
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COMMENTS:
Good one,Rebelvin. - Nosila, 2008-05-15: 01:52:00
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Unintendment
Created by: pieceof314
Pronunciation: un-intend-ment
Sentence: Horace had horrible headaches. He was getting rather desperate. He thought by cutting his head off, he would alleviate the problem. The one unintendment he didn't count on was death.
Etymology: un, not + intend, to direct one's attention towards
Incorrectify
Created by: stache
Pronunciation: ĭn'kə-rěk'tə-fī'
Sentence: "You can't polish a turd," Garvin said when David showed him how he had used accessories to incorrectify his '79 Ford Pinto.
Etymology: incur, to bring upon oneself, as in, to incur the ridicule of the public; rectify, verb form of rectum, part of the human anatomy often euphemized as a term of disparagement.
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COMMENTS:
nice - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-15: 11:45:00
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Comments:
Today's definition is inspired by author and philosopher, Mark Kingwell who I saw last night speaking about "Social Change". He reminded us that not all change is good change. And noted that in German they have word to describe such bad improvements -- Schlimmbesserung -- which we don't have in English. And so it's today's challenge. Thanks Mark! ~ James