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.
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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Dorkmeister
Created by: metrohumanx
Pronunciation: DORK- my-ster
Sentence: We don’t need convincing – The self- analyzer… Who mocks himself daily’s A real DORKMEISTER!
Etymology: DORK+MEISTER= DORKMEISTER.....Dork: perhaps alteration of dick Date: 1967.....MEISTER: one who is delusionally knowledgeable about something specified; Yiddish mayster & German Meister master, from Middle High German meister, from Old High German meistar, from Latin magister.
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COMMENTS:
I'm not surprised that nobody likes the DORKMEISTER. What's to like? - metrohumanx, 2009-06-10: 05:52:00
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Perserfailing
Created by: steveo772
Pronunciation: per-sur-fail-ing
Sentence: Frank was persistently perserfailing in order to get laid off.
Etymology: Perservere + Fail.
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COMMENTS:
like it - Jabberwocky, 2009-06-10: 11:46:00
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Presentablahness
Created by: bookowl
Pronunciation: pree/zent/a/blah/ness
Sentence: His presentablahness said it all.
Etymology: presentableness + blah
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)
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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Downanshout
Created by: TJayzz
Pronunciation: Dow-nan-showt
Sentence: Mark knew he was a failure from the start, when he was expelled from nursery school at the tender age of three! But could not resist telling all who would listen about them. His reasoning for being a downanshout was that he would rather shout his failings from the rooftops before people around him discovered them for themselves.
Etymology: Down(depressed about ones own failures) an(short for and) Shout(to air ones opinions in a loud manner), down and out (one of lifes complete failures) =Downanshout.
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...)
Misconfidosis
Created by: arrrteest
Pronunciation: miss-conf-ih-doh-sis
Sentence: Jeff's misconfidosis could easily be explained by what he had seen around him. Whenever his bosses ever messed up, they ended up getting promoted.
Etymology: mis,prefix meaning "bad, wrong" + confident, sure of one's self + osis, suffix expressing state or condition, in medical terminology denoting "a state of disease"
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COMMENTS:
The old addage here is F-up, move up! - arrrteest, 2008-04-29: 01:05:00
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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
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