Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A technological innovation that doesn't work as expected because "normal people" can't figure out how to use it. v. To improve something in a way that makes it much harder to use.
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.
Digitknowitall
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: dij it no it all
Sentence: Reggie had bought a fancy new digital radio/alarm clock/coffeemaker/toaster. It was designed to be efficient in the morning by waking him up on time and getting his breakfast ready. His new appliance was a digitknowitall. Great in theory, but he could never get the radio station he liked programmed into it, so he had to listen to newscasts in a foreign language. He could also never program in the correct time...it was always an hour behind or so. The coffee tasted like something you would expect would come out of a new computer and the toast was always burned black. His only consolation was that the smoke detector awoke him if the alarm failed, the coffee was a handy extinguisher for the burnt breakfast offerings and his clock was right twice a day.
Etymology: Digital (of a circuit or device that represents magnitudes in digits) & Know-It-All (a person who thinks/behaves as if they know everything, but usually knows less than you would think on a subject).
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COMMENTS:
LOL! I'm still laughing, ha ha! Thanks! - splendiction, 2009-10-07: 21:44:00
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Whatchamadowithit
Created by: ekath
Pronunciation: whachama-do-with-it
Sentence: Its kind of sad when my mom tries to figure out how to operate her whatchamadowithits. Usually I sigh and show her, for example, how to turn her cell phone on.
Etymology: from whatchamacallit and not-knowing-what-to-do-with-it
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COMMENTS:
Man, I spent almost an hour trying to think of something like this, but the best I could think of was "howjamauseit". I'm glad somebody was able to find a better solution than that. - ErWenn, 2007-03-22: 00:45:00
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Unutilovelty
Created by: mana1066
Pronunciation: un-you-till-â-vul-tee
Sentence: When the people on tv used it, it seemed like it would change my life. when i got it in the mail it ended up being a unutilovelty that collected dust.
Etymology: un+ utilize + novelty
Enigmadget
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ˌɛnɪɡˈmӕdʒit/
Sentence: I was fairly certain that the enigmadget was supposed to be the new television's remote control, but I couldn't find a single button on it.
Etymology: From enigma + gadget
Innocumberance
Created by: PythianHabenero
Pronunciation: in-no-cumber-ants
Sentence: Voice recognition software is universally an innocumberance.
Etymology: "innovation" + "encumberance".
Hardprove
Created by: arlouxo
Pronunciation: hardproove
Sentence: why do you have to hardprove everything?
Etymology: hard: because it became harder / prove: from "improve" because you have moved on
Technogression
Created by: sisica
Pronunciation: tek-no-GREH-shun
Sentence: The
Etymology: Technical Regression (with the added bonus of having the feel of "agression") in the word....and I'd think that could be a subsequent feeling to being unable to benefit for the intended technological benefit that is not being met.
Modconjob
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: mod-con-job
Sentence: It was all hype and bonhomie in the sales pitch, but I've hit the trough of disillusionment with this modconjob.
Etymology: mod con (modern convenience) + con job (trick pulled by a confidence artist)
Regressivention
Created by: jmedaris
Pronunciation:
Sentence: After listening to a half hour of unintelligible droning, I can honestly say that Operator #23194 represents the zenith of our Customer Service Industry's regressivention.
Etymology:
Techurdle
Created by: wordmeister
Pronunciation: tech-her-del
Sentence: Windows Vista is so full of techurdles that it practically trips over itself everytime it starts up.
Etymology: tech+hurdle
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COMMENTS:
I like that one! - jedijawa, 2007-03-22: 00:10:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James