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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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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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Dimvention

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: dim ven shun

Sentence: The new time-saving innovation in lighting should have been a breeze. But people tend to overthink things and could not understand that if you clapped your hands once, the light would go on, twice and it would brighten in intensity and three times it would turn off. Some people clapped all night trying to get this dimvention right...

Etymology: Dim (lacking clarity or distinctness;slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity)& Invention ( creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation)

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Cyberk

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: s eye burk

Sentence: If she counted up the hours she spent speaking to cyberks, it would far outweigh time spent speaking to friends family and pets.

Etymology: cyber, berk.

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COMMENTS:

a person could go positively cyberzerk! - Alchemist, 2007-03-21: 06:04:00

or sigh berzerk - galwaywegian, 2007-03-21: 08:00:00

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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

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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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Modconjob

petaj

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)

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Technifficult

Created by: mweinmann

Pronunciation: tek - nif - eh - kult

Sentence: Seymour found that the voice activated answer lines were very technificult. If he chose option 1, he was only left with three options, none of which fit his question. If he chose option 2, there were four options, unrelated to his question, and so on and so on until he gave up and hung up.

Etymology: technical, difficult

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COMMENTS:

Excellent! - splendiction, 2009-10-07: 21:40:00

We've all been there... - Nosila, 2009-10-07: 23:50:00

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Einstymie

Created by: purpleartichokes

Pronunciation: EIN-sty-mee

Sentence: Sue was all thrilled to get her new cell phone, but after reading through the 245 page manual and realizing she didn't have a clue as to how to turn on the damn thing, she realized she had purchased yet another Einstymie.

Etymology: Einstein, stymie (A situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it.)

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COMMENTS:

very good - Jabberwocky, 2007-03-21: 11:31:00

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Vistappointment

Created by: Alchemist

Pronunciation: vis-tah-POYNY-ment

Sentence: That new self-walking dog leash I bought online turned out to be a big Vistappointment. I couldn't even get it configured to my breed, it kept defaulting to "shih tsu". What a rip!

Etymology: Vista (you know) + disappointment

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COMMENTS:

very topical! - galwaywegian, 2007-03-21: 06:43:00

I don't normally appreciate topical verboticisms, but this one actually rolls off the tongue nicely. - Discoveria, 2007-03-21: 08:44:00

for relief of normal verboticism, apply topically...:-) - Alchemist, 2007-03-21: 09:19:00

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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