Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To push yourself so hard to reach an impossibly high standard of perfection, that you undercut your own success. n. An impossibly high goal which practically guarantees failure.
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.
Obsessernaught
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: ob-SES-her-not
Sentence: Stan was always hyped up about achieving goals to the point of being totally obsessed with success, but his standards were so high that he only succeeded in becoming an obsessernaught.
Etymology: Blend of 'obsessed' (To preoccupy the mind of excessively) and 'naught' (nothing, nil)
Disastorious
Created by: jrogan
Pronunciation: di-sas-tor-ee-us
Sentence: Jonathan was going to be the world’s greatest novelist, but he could never get that first sentence right. So he would tell his friends his writing career was disastorious, hoping they would think it was something big... rather than something that was just very short.
Etymology: glorious + disaster
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COMMENTS:
Novel word! - Nosila, 2009-08-19: 12:09:00
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Nosestrive
Created by: sodium
Pronunciation: nose-strive
Sentence: Garfunkel, who only wanted to look sharp, would often nosestrive while working on his makeup, forgetting that one also requires pants to make a good impression.
Etymology: strive + nosedive
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COMMENTS:
Good! - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 10:12:00
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Reachforthechop
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: ree/ch/for/th/chop
Sentence: In his quest to reach for the top he unfortunately joined the ranks who reachforthechop.
Etymology: reach for the top + chop
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COMMENTS:
You mean he lost his fingers? Good thing he was using his hand... - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 10:46:00
I was thinking of something a little more precious...jewels come to mind - Jabberwocky, 2007-01-16: 11:51:00
Yes, when you reachforthechop, it could be quite distastorious if you choose the wrong goal, or worse, choose the wrong tool... - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 12:02:00
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Undergrasp
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /"un-d&r-'grasp/
Sentence: When the couple played Spades, he would always underbid and she would always overbid; between his overreaching and her undergrasping, they'd usually break even.
Etymology: From the common phrase "his reach exceeds his grasp"
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COMMENTS:
Good word ErWenn! This is a word you could us on an everyday basis -- at least if you know people like that... - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 10:55:00
Thanks, I was happy with that one. It's nice to come up with one that's not just a portmanteau. - ErWenn, 2007-01-17: 00:15:00
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Motiflaytion
Created by: ubgrud
Pronunciation: mow-ti-flay-shun
Sentence: He was so motiflayted to win the race that he capsized his boat.
Etymology: motivation+flay
Paragonarrhea
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: pair-a-gone-a-ree-ah
Sentence: Sue would always paragonarrhea over her clothes, constantly tugging, smoothing, and brushing off imaginary lint specks; ultimately, this made her look like a grooming chimpanzee.
Etymology: paragon, gonarrhea
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COMMENTS:
Hilarious! - wordmeister, 2007-01-16: 10:10:00
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Perfectionalynch
Created by: ToblerOne
Pronunciation: Per-fec-tion-a-lynch
Sentence: Jimmy's perfectionalynch behavior cost him and his employees their jobs.
Etymology: Perfectionist + Lynching
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COMMENTS:
I love this word - it leaves you hanging - Jabberwocky, 2007-01-17: 10:49:00
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Icarussing
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: icarus - ing
Sentence: The opera singer strove for a perfect tone, but icarussing resulted in vocal cord nodes and a husky voice.
Etymology: Icarus (the boy, exulting in his career, began to soar upward as if to reach heaven, where the sun melted the wax holding his wings together and he plunged into the sea) + ing
