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.
Dehancement
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)
Ineffectualogy
Created by: aly22
Pronunciation: in-eff-ekt-oo-ology
Sentence: The system's ineffectualogy has slowed business to a crawl.
Etymology: Ineffectual + techonology
Indautified
Created by: jonobo
Pronunciation: in - doubtified
Sentence: We are surrounded by indautified technology.
Etymology: In as a negative pre-syllable. DAU = German abbreviation for Stupidest Expected User, so SEU in englich. certified. Short: Technology that is not certified for DAUs/SEUs.
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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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)
Iletdown
Created by: iwasatripwire
Pronunciation: eye-let-down
Sentence: Oh man, that cool new feature turned out to be such an iLetdown.
Etymology: "i" (as in iPod, iPhone, etc) + "let down"
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)
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COMMENTS:
Perfect! - wordmeister, 2007-03-21: 00:42:00
Simple and cute! Love it! - purpleartichokes, 2007-03-21: 04:39:00
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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
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James