Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To focus on your weaknesses, rather than your strengths. n. A person who is obsessed with their perceived deficiencies, and works hard to ensure that everyone else understands and appreciates their failings.
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.
Faultastic
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: fôltastik
Sentence: Alex is a faultastic boss. In an effort to appear humble he constantly pointing his own foibles. Whenever he is called on to present his accomplishments he sings his own praises in faultsetto.
Etymology: fault (an unattractive or unsatisfactory feature) + fantastic (extraordinarily good or attractive)
Mignify
Created by: Pyrrhocephalous
Pronunciation: Mig'-nif-ai
Sentence: "Could you wash the dishes for me, dear?" "Sure, Mommy! Hopefully I won't drop any like I did yesterday. Or bend the spoods too hard. Or accidently toss any on Fluffball..." "Actually, Suzie, why don't you go play with your friends? I can wash them" Suzie successfully mignified her way out of doing the dishes.
Etymology: Minimum + Magnify, since a mignifier is magnifying his minimum ability.
Presentablahness
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: pree/zent/a/blah/ness
Sentence: His presentablahness said it all.
Etymology: presentableness + blah
Defectitude
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: de-fect-ta-tude
Sentence: Sally's defectitude about her skills ensured that she would remain at the bottom of the typing pool for her entire career because she convinced everyone else that she lacked the ability to perform competently.
Etymology: defect: imperfection, deficiency, shortcoming + attitude: belief, outlook, approach
Faulterego
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: fal - tur - ee - go
Sentence: Stephanie has a strong faulterego. Those who know her well realize that she is an intelligent, capable woman. She is so good at downplaying her strengths in favor of her weaknesses that at times, she seems like another person.
Etymology: fault, falter, alter ego (An alter ego (Latin, "the other I") is a second self, a second personality or persona within a person. It was coined in the early nineteenth century when schizophrenia was first described by early psychologists. A person with an alter ego is said to lead a double life)
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COMMENTS:
good one - Nosila, 2009-06-09: 11:08:00
Got my vote - DrWebsterIII, 2009-06-09: 13:33:00
Very good! - Mustang, 2009-06-09: 18:15:00
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Incompetitor
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: in-COM-pet-it-tah
Sentence: Marty's ambition was to be the incompetitor of the month. So he launched into self-demotion at every opportunity until the entire staff was well aware of his every foible.
Etymology: incompetence + competitor
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COMMENTS:
on a roll petaj - Jabberwocky, 2008-04-29: 12:19:00
thanks jabber. I though blooprint was pretty good, but had my doubts this would be popular - petaj, 2008-04-30: 02:59:00
Nice word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-04-30: 21:33:00
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Vulnerabillisme
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: vul ner abil is me
Sentence: Chuck sat at his desk telling Denise, the new receptionist, how his reports were brief and he was not strong in public speaking or doing up a presentation. She thought it very strange given he was the Marketing Director and he had to give presentations, public speeches and detailed reports all the time. His vulnerabillisme was cute until she figured out how much they were paying him to do so little, when she could do the job and be a success!
Etymology: Vulnerability (susceptibility to injury or attack; the state of being vulnerable or exposed) & Is Me (it's all about you...)
Nokwando
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: nōkwändō
Sentence: Nelson is not only a practitioner but is the grand master of a new martial art, nokwando. Rather than teach new skills, this art concentrates on what a student cannot do. His dojo is not finished yet and may not be unless someone else take on the project. Nelson even practices his art at work. When his boss suggests some action that he should be undertaking, he can almost always defer or deflect this effort with phrases like "I'll have take that under study" or "My predecessor never showed me how to do that".
Etymology: no (not any) + taekwando (a modern Korean martial art similar to karate)
Weakoncentration
Created by: chingbangwa
Pronunciation: wee-kon-sen-tray-shon
Sentence: Mike's weakoncentration is getting out of control. He has no legs and he has joined a running team
Etymology: Weak = lacking strenght + concentration = focus
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COMMENTS:
So he's legless? Interesting word,chingbangwa - Nosila, 2008-04-29: 23:13:00
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Flunkard
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: /flung-kerd/ (pronounced like 'drunkard')
Sentence: Larry would often set low standards for himself and then consistently fail to meet those standards. As a habitual flunkard, Larry found that there were very few tasks entrusted to him at the office. Management, having noticed this, were quick to assume that he was quite skilled at delegating assignments, and offered him a promotion.
Etymology: Flunk - failure to meet minimum performance standards (English slang, from alteration of British university slang, funk "to be frightened, shrink from") + Drunkard - a chronic, habitual drinker (from Old English, druncen, pp. of "to drink"); Flunkard = a chronic, habitual failure.
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COMMENTS:
great sentence Tigger - Jabberwocky, 2008-04-29: 12:21:00
Great word! - Mustang, 2008-04-29: 23:23:00
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Comments:
Today's definition is inspired by Johnny Bunko's Career Secret # 2: "Think strengths, not weaknesses". See: "The Adventures of Johnny Bunko" by Dan Pink. Thanks Dan! ~ James
Today's definition is inspired by Johnny Bunko's Career Secret # 2: "Think strengths, not weaknesses". See: "The Adventures of Johnny Bunko" by Dan Pink. Thanks Dan! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by johnnybunko. Thank you johnnybunko. ~ James