Vote for the best verboticism.

'I'm sorry can you repeat that? '

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.

Create | Read

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).

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

LOL! I'm still laughing, ha ha! Thanks! - splendiction, 2009-10-07: 21:44:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Unnovation

Created by: urbanwookie

Pronunciation: uhn-o-vay-shun

Sentence: After field trials of his latest product design, Geoff quickly realised that adding a cigarette lighter to a diver's watch was an unnovation...

Etymology: a contraction of "un" and "innovation"

| Comments and Points

Complacate

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: com plak kayt

Sentence: Initially when you had an IT problem, you just phoned Fred and he'd either tell you how to fix it or come and do it for you. When they installed a new system, they added a voice mail system to log complaints. It was intended to complacate the user. Your complaint was registered, but you had to go through an e-labourate series of "Press this, press that" options. You got nowhere but they figured all that button pushing kept you busy and entertained until they could figure out how you had screwed up their expensive system.

Etymology: Complicate (make more complex, intricate;confusing) & Placate (cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of;lull;mollify)

| Comments and Points

Blooproof

AnnieChandon

Created by: AnnieChandon

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

Darwinalogical

Created by: chercherlalun

Pronunciation: darwin a logical

Sentence:

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

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

----------------------------
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

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

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.

| Comments and Points

Techbotcholy

erasmus

Created by: erasmus

Pronunciation: teck bot ch olly

Sentence: the techbotcholy at our office is so unusable you cant even type your name in without it changing to Korean keyboard layout.

Etymology: from technology and botch

| Comments and Points

Glitchtech

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: glitsch-tek

Sentence: As usual, the latest innovation offered by the software provider contained the usual abundance of glitchtech making it almost impossible to use by anyone other than a seasoned techie.

Etymology: Blend of 'glitch' (a minor problem that causes a temporary setback a snag) and 'tech', abbreviation for technology

| Comments and Points

Unutilovelty

Created by: mana1066

Pronunciation: un-you-till-รข-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

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2007-03-20: 00:11:00
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-10-07: 00:05:00
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James