Vote for the best verboticism.

'It's time to find your inner cockroach'

DEFINITION: n. A person who succeeds not because of their talents, but because they just won't quit. v. To firmly believe in your talents and never give up on your goals, despite the huge obstacles, snide comments, and repeated setbacks.

Create | Read

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.

Hacklentless

artr

Created by: artr

Pronunciation: hak-lent-lis

Sentence: Sally is now in charge of the department, not because of any outstanding talent or even a clear understanding of what the job entails. Anybody with an ounce of skill or ambition has moved on to bigger and better things long ago. Her plodding, hacklentless approach to her work and mediocre results keeps her so far under the radar of scrutiny that she has no enemies. In fact, most people don't even know who she is after 20 years with the company. Sometimes people walk into her because they just don't notice she is there.

Etymology: Hack (a person, as an artist or writer, who exploits, for money, his or her creative ability or training in the production of dull, unimaginative, and trite work) + relentless (unyieldingly severe, strict, or harsh)

| Comments and Points

Dogkarmatic

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: dog-kar-mat-ick

Sentence: Helen is a dedicated dogkarmatic, convinced that if she holds on to and practices the principles of hard work that in the end she will be greatly rewarded for her persistence and hard work, though some of her friends are convinced that her karma will eventually run over her dogma.

Etymology: Blend of 'dogma' (something held as an established opinion; especially : a definite authoritative tenet) and 'karma' ( the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence)

| Comments and Points

Hambition

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: ham bish shun

Sentence: Liza was determined to be a great actress. She starred in school productions through high school and somehow made it into acting school. Her hambition was to get into a long-running soap, but she was rejected because her acting skills were too over the top. She finally got a bit part in a movie, "Joe's Apartment", but only because she was the only actor who allowed them to put a cockroach on her nose...

Etymology: Ham (unskilled actor who overacts) & Ambition (strong drive for success)

| Comments and Points

Unswervictor

petaj

Created by: petaj

Pronunciation: un-SWER-vick-ter

Sentence: The unswervictor's hero was Benjamin Disraeli, who once said "through perseverence many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure".

Etymology: unswerving (persistent) + victor (winner)

| Comments and Points

Purseverance

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: poor sev eer ans

Sentence: When jockey/owner Cher Bett entered her horse, Mane Chance, in the biggest cup competition of the racing season, she had to overcome a lot of obstacles. Being a woman owner/jockey was a major issue in the male dominated sport. Getting backers, paying trainers, vets and stable staff were major financial considerations for the not-rich Cher. But after all her purseverance, she not only ran in the race, but won it at 20-to-1 odds. She won so much, she can afford to hire jockeys now and has become a legend in race circles!

Etymology: Purse (a sum of money offered as a prize) & Perseverance (persistance; tenacity)

| Comments and Points

Littlengina

Created by: verbherder

Pronunciation: lit-l-en-jahy-nuh

Sentence: The blue-haired woman ringing up Slurpees for the past 38 years at the Gas 'N Sip turned out to be a littlengina. Some publisher bought the novel she was always jawing about, and now it's a best seller in several regions of Portugal.

Etymology: The little engine that could

| Comments and Points

Hotdoggedness

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: hot dog ed ness

Sentence: Werner Wiener was known for his hotdoggedness. When the agency scouts came to a town near him looking for fresh new talent, he relished becoming their new Top Hot Dog. He mustard been born with a determined streak, for although he was small when born, like a cocktail weenie, everyone knew he'd soon ketchup and be as big a Wiener as his Dad, Frank. Werner knew he would have to rely on his hotdoggedness to win, because he was not as handsome or suave as some of the other wieners, although he was told that he had nice buns. He competed against a kobhasa named Garlic Ring, the Ukrainian Hamlet; a British banger named Todd Inthehole; a Brat (one of the wurst Germans he'd met) named Knock Wurst; a pair of sweet Italians, named Sal Ami and Pep Peroni (who were always casing the joint) and his wurst nightmare, a Spanish conquistador named Pepe Chorizo(they thought he was a Chile Dog), whom all the women loved. Although Werner sizzled in the talent portion singing "MacArthur Pork", minced around on stage and finally was named Sausage Idol, many thought it was because of his links to the Bologna crime family. Few knew it was because he had had a sausage roll in the hay with one of the judges, Hamela Anderson. But don't worry, he wore a condiment!

Etymology: hot (very intense,performed or performing with unusually great skill and daring and energy;marked by intensity or vehemence especially of passion or enthusiasm)& hot dog (someone who performs dangerous stunts to attract attention to himself) & dogged ( stubbornly unyielding, persistent)

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Funneeee!!! - TJayzz, 2008-05-01: 11:16:00

Shazzaayammm! - Mustang, 2008-05-01: 08:10:00

That is an INCREDIBLY long and drawn out and extensive sentence! And now, thanks to you, I hunger for tube meat. Gee thanks. - daniellegeorge, 2008-05-01: 09:40:00

brilliantly done, as usual. - stache, 2008-05-01: 13:51:00

Good word; good sentence. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-02: 05:30:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Determinashionist

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: dee ter min ay shun ist

Sentence: Many of the contenders on the reality talent shows are not so much talented as determinationist in their thirst for fame and glory. Yes, their resolve, giving up work and school for their 5 minutes of fame on the tube, proves they each are a determinashionist...that and the fact that all their friends call in 100 votes each from their handful of cellphones is what wins these contests!

Etymology: Determination (the quality of being determined to do or achieve something;an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions) & ist (suffix for a person who follows a belief or ideal)

| Comments and Points

Bullybuster

Created by: Rutilus

Pronunciation: bull-ee-bus-ter

Sentence: Clarissa was determined to succeed despite the venom of her odious colleague. She had bullybustered her way through her career and she wasn't in any mood to stop now.

Etymology: Bully - to force one's will by force and/or intimidation; Buster - one that breaks up something

| Comments and Points

Persistenator

Created by: arrrteest

Pronunciation: per-sis-ten-ay-tor

Sentence: In the office, Phyllis was called the persistenator. She worked hard and despite not having quite the flashes of brilliance and withitness as many new hires. However, she always was went about her daily duties. After 3 years waiting for the promotion from mail clerk to record filing, it took her another 4 years to make it to front desk. After spending 10 years at the job, and after much turnover in the office, she was finally promoted to office manager 6 years ago. She hoped to make the jump to mid-level management soon as she just completed a correspondance course in business administration.

Etymology: persistence,the act of persisting or persevering; continuing or repeating behavior + ator, suffix indicating a person that is involved with doing what the root word is about

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

On a roll! - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-02: 05:29:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-05-01: 00:01:00
Today's definition is inspired by Johnny Bunko's Career Lesson # 4: "Persistence trumps talent". See: "The Adventures of Johnny Bunko" by Dan Pink. Thanks Dan! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-06-11: 00:01:00
Today's definition is inspired by Johnny Bunko's Career Lesson # 4: "Persistence trumps talent". See: "The Adventures of Johnny Bunko" by Dan Pink. Thanks Dan! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-07-05: 00:05:00
Today's definition was suggested by johnnybunko. Thank you johnnybunko. ~ James