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.

Unnovation

bedens

Created by: bedens

Pronunciation: un-no-VA-shun

Sentence: "The voice mail tree at XYZ PC Warehouse is a real unnovation."

Etymology: un (not) + novation (from Innovation)

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

Unnovative word...good one! - Nosila, 2009-10-07: 23:49:00

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

| Comments and Points

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

Untechcipherable

Created by: sunny09

Pronunciation: un-tech-cy-fer-able

Sentence: Jane found that most of Vista was untechcipherable and played Zelda instead.

Etymology: undecipherable technology

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

mac rules - mana1066, 2007-03-21: 21:24:00

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

| Comments and Points

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

| Comments and Points

Antitechinnovation

Created by: paintergrl1313

Pronunciation: Anti-teck-inno-vay-shun

Sentence: In the commercial this antitechinovation looked so easy, but I still can't figure out how to make a phone call!

Etymology: Anti, technologic, innovation

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

Anything "anti" is good...lol. Nice wordage! - Sketchy, 2007-03-21: 14:45:00

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

| Comments and Points

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:

| Comments and Points

Stymieware

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: stīmēwər

Sentence: Jerry is proud to own the latest, greatest smart phone. It is apparently smarter than him. Yesterday it automatically downloaded and installed the freshest stymieware. It is supposed to give him all kinds of new state-of-the-art capabilities. He is lucky to figure out how to make a phone call. He tried to text his brother but ended up in a video conference call with some guys in Denmark. It might have been interesting if he understood them.

Etymology: stymie (prevent or hinder the progress of) + software (the programs and other operating information used by a computer)

| Comments and Points

Ditzmo

Created by: jedijawa

Pronunciation: ditz-mo

Sentence: The ditzmo was such a complicated bit of electronics that Bobbie didn't even try to figure it out.

Etymology: ditz (a scatterbrain) + gizmo (a mechanical device)

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

Perfect! - wordmeister, 2007-03-21: 00:42:00

Simple and cute! Love it! - purpleartichokes, 2007-03-21: 04:39:00

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

| Comments and Points

Technocando

Created by: rikboyee

Pronunciation: teck-no-can-do

Sentence: he downloaded it..he installed it..and only after hours of fruitless pointing and clicking and help menuing did he realise he'd fallen for another technocando

Etymology: techno, no can do

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

funny and appropriate - Jabberwocky, 2007-03-21: 11:32:00

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

| 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

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