Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To unintentionally encourage bad behavior by responding to it in a manner that incites even worse behavior. n. A response designed to stop bad behavior, which paradoxically produces more of it.
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.
Reverbirate
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: re-VERB-eye-rayt
Sentence: It seemed that whenever Cindy would try to motivate her husband, Charlie, to behave more civilly, her words would only reverbirate in some dark corner of his psyche and have the opposite effect with him responding in even more outrageous manner.
Etymology: blend of 'reverberate' (echo) and 'irate' (angry)
Dissuascalation
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: dis-sway-sca-lay-shun
Sentence: Bobby, just ignore your brother. You know that when you tell him not to swear he just tells you to f&*$ #$%&&% )!!@^&$$. I know you mean well, but it's just a dissuascalation.
Etymology: dissuasion (discouragement) + escalation (increase, especially in the case of military escalation where every action is responded to with greater force)
Pacifry
Created by: splendiction
Pronunciation: pass i FRY
Sentence: Blaze was having a small melt down when the ice cream truck sped by their home too quickly. His parents inadvertently pacifried him with the comment that ice cream from ice cream trucks, "is bad for you anyway." Blaze's melt down progressed into a full blown explosive fit of stamping, arm-flinging, and fiery-hot tearful cries: "BUD I WANNED NICE-CREAM!"
Etymology: A blend of PACIFY and FRY, overdo to the point of ruin.
Habetual
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: ha bet ual
Sentence: Joanie nagged at Chachi when he drove, which drove him insane. She failed to under stand that her habetual commentary on his poor driving habits made him a worse driver. It would have probably worked better if she had actually had a driving license of her own before passing such critiques on his driving skills...
Etymology: Habitual (commonly used or practiced; usual) & Abet (assist or encourage, usually in wrongdoing)
Modifail
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: mod/i/fail
Sentence: As a teacher, I sometimes modifail when a student over reacts in a negative way to an attempted behaviour modifcation causing even further trouble in class.
Etymology: modify + fail
Tranquilose
Created by: Rutilus
Pronunciation: tran-kwi-looz
Sentence: However hard Peggy tried to pacify Ivan's ire she only ever seem to tranquilose him and in the process make him even more uptight. She was getting tired of this relationship and wanted out!
Etymology: tranquilise - to pacify; lose - to be defeated (in purpose)
Miscourage
Created by: jrogan
Pronunciation: mis-cur-rage
Sentence: Every time Sally miscouraged her boyfriend go slower, he went faster. It didn't matter whether they were on the highway, or in the bedroom.
Etymology: miss + courage as opposed to discourage
Naggravate
Created by: Tigger
Pronunciation: /NAG-ruh-veyt/
Sentence: Matt was normally an aggressive driver — he practiced 'offensive driving' rather than 'defensive driving' — and when his passengers complained it would only naggravate the situation. Unfortunately, Matt's girlfriend, Mona, still hadn't learned this, and their roadtrips would turn into white-knuckled rollercoaster rides of reckless driving and near accidents, which only grew worse as Mona's screams intensified.
Etymology: Nag - to annoy by persistent faultfinding, complaints, or demands (from Old Norse, gnaga "to complain") + Aggravate - to make worse or more severe; intensify; irritate (from Latin, aggravāre "to burden")
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COMMENTS:
Good word!! - TJayzz, 2008-05-20: 11:28:00
good word. love Mona. - galwaywegian, 2008-05-20: 10:28:00
Was her name Mona Lott? Good Word - Nosila, 2008-05-20: 22:40:00
Yes, it was! Do you know her too? - Tigger, 2008-05-21: 00:30:00
Good word - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 01:20:00
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Hamperpetuate
Created by: rebelvin
Pronunciation: HAMper+PERPETUATE
Sentence: Whatever you do, don't even mention his driving, you will only hamperpetuate his bad habits.
Etymology: HAMper+PERPETUATE
Modifail
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: mod/i/fail
Sentence: As a teacher, I sometimes modifail when a student over reacts in a negative way to an attempted behaviour modifcation causing even further trouble in class.
Etymology: modify + fail
Comments:
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's observation that if we are going to use "progressive animal training techniques" on humans, that we simply need to reward behavior we want and ignore behavior we don't. Of course this is easier said than done, and requires a great deal of self-awareness and self-discipline. In fact, Amy calls it the "Zen of Animal Training". See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's observation that if we are going to use "progressive animal training techniques" on humans, that we simply need to reward behavior we want and ignore behavior we don't. Of course this is easier said than done, and requires a great deal of self-awareness and self-discipline. In fact, Amy calls it the "Zen of Animal Training". See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by amysutherland. Thank you amysutherland. ~ James
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