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)
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)
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:
Techlessness
Created by: jschrady
Pronunciation: Tek-les-nes
Sentence: Her lack of ability to enter the right pin code, no matter how many times the attendant assisted her, was, frankly, techlessness!
Etymology: Tech- technology Less- having nothing of something Ness- the action
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)
Gateget
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: gate/jit
Sentence: Another inservice on the latest gateget. I need an inservice on the inservice to figure out all the latest gategets.
Etymology: Bill Gates + gate + gadget
Techillogical
Created by: toadstool57
Pronunciation: tec-ill-logic-al
Sentence: Jills lack of experience using modern technology lead to her techillogical operation of the DVD player she just purchased.
Etymology: technologic/illogical
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COMMENTS:
so close to perfect, wish I'd thought of: techNILLogical - aly22, 2007-03-21: 16:11:00
I also thought it looked a bit tetchy which also fits. woo. gets my vote. - erasmus, 2007-03-30: 06:20:00
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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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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"
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:
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James