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'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.

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Verboticisms

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Teclention

Created by: ziggy41

Pronunciation: (Tuh-CLENCH-en)

Sentence: I can't get this stupid teclention to ever work!

Etymology: Deflected (broke, unable to use properly), + technological (pertaining to technology), + invention (something patented or fabricated)

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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:

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Dehancement

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: dee-hans-ment

Sentence: New & improved! Fear these words. Too often they announce the dehancement of a product from tried and true to unfathomable.

Etymology: degrade (to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt) + enhancement (to raise to a higher degree; intensify; magnify)

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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)

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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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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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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

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Badget

Created by: Bulletchewer

Pronunciation: bajj-it

Sentence: The old woman thought everything was a badget; the keyboard had too many keys, the cell phone was too small and as for the microwave...

Etymology: From "bad" and "gadget".

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COMMENTS:

very funny! - Sketchy, 2007-03-21: 14:41:00

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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"

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Iflawed

Created by: ShaggE

Pronunciation:

Sentence:

Etymology: iPod+Flawed

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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