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.
Defectionist
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: dee-fekt-shun-ehst
Sentence: Wilbur had at one point in his life been a perfectionist but over time after suffering some setbacks, he became a defectionist, concentrating on his perceived defects rather than building on his strengths.
Etymology: Blend of 'defect' (imperfection) and suffix 'ist' (indicates a person involved in the activity or field)
Antegoist
Created by: stache
Pronunciation: ant'ē'gō-ĭst
Sentence: Marlene was an accomplished dancer and visual artist, and her mechanical skills were amazing. She could dance her way through a brake job or a tuneup, and her pin-striping designs were renowned. But she was such an antegoist that when Herschel asked her to help him at the hot-rod show she declined because, she said, "I'm just not a 'people person.'"
Etymology: ant, any of numerous black, red, brown, or yellow social insects of the family Formicidae [Middle English amte, from Old English ǣmete]; eg, var. of egg, as in to have egg on one's face, or to lay an egg; oist, practitioner of zero.
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.
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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Imperfectshine
Created by: rikboyee
Pronunciation: im-purr-fekt-shine
Sentence: she reasoned that the world needed some ugly models and she would damn well imperfectshine her way to the top!
Etymology: imperfection, shine
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COMMENTS:
Well thought out! - TJayzz, 2008-04-29: 11:13:00
good for her - Jabberwocky, 2008-04-29: 12:20:00
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Degretation
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: degh-reh-TAY-shun
Sentence: Carletons sense of self worth was flimsy at best, bordering on nonexistent, and he would frequently abase himself in his self styled degretation, using verbal self abuse and humiliation.
Etymology: Blend of degrade and reputation
Pedantichick
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: ped an tik hik
Sentence: Billy Bob was not making his transition from country bumpkin to slick city dweller very easy. He only opened his mouth to change feet and was known as a pedantichick, because he seemed determined to show off how naive and unsophisticated he was while going to college in a big city. He typified the stereotype of a big dumb farm boy. Case in point was when he was given a new protractor as part of his course equipment. He reckoned he wouldn't need a protractor, since he didn't have to plow the fields no more!
Etymology: Pedantic (marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects) & Hick ( not very intelligent or interested in culture; awkwardly simple and provincial)
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COMMENTS:
good one - Jabberwocky, 2009-06-11: 15:48:00
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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...)
Wimperfector
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: wim per fek tor
Sentence: Wayne was such a wimperfector that when he was absent, his productivity at work went up. His boss wrote on his annual review:"I can assure you that no person would be better for this job. We are very fortunate to get this person to work for us."
Etymology: Wimp (a weak person) & Imperfect(not perfect; defective or inadequate) & Perfector (a person who completes or makes something perfect)
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
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