Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. An invented word which appears learned, sounds sophisticated, and is completely confusing. v.intr. To use invented words in order to confuse others, and/or create the illusion of erudition.
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.
Brainyyak
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: brainy/yak
Sentence: All the brainyyak at the conference was driving me crazy, plus I had a stiff neck from nodding in agreement to all the babble.
Etymology: brainy + yak + braniac
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COMMENTS:
was it a tibethinkthank? - galwaywegian, 2007-06-26: 06:15:00
Tibet it was. - Clayton, 2007-06-26: 07:15:00
And brainiac should be in the etymology. - petaj, 2007-06-26: 07:57:00
thanks petaj - I spent so much time trying to figure out a new word for the classic cartoon only to find I couldn't put in a new one. This was done in a big hurry. - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-26: 08:45:00
I assume the emphasis is on yak rather than brainy... - wordmeister, 2007-06-26: 14:35:00
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Blabbergast
Created by: ziggy41
Pronunciation: Bla-burr-gast
Sentence: It's her lifetime goal to disorient everyone she meets using her master skills at blabbergasting.
Etymology: Blabber (speak nonsensically) + flabbergast (greatly astonish)
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COMMENTS:
flabulous - galwaywegian, 2007-06-26: 05:58:00
Indeflabigably! - Clayton, 2007-06-26: 07:11:00
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Floccinaucicance
Created by: mplsbohemian
Pronunciation: flahk-see-NAHS-sihk-kuhns
Sentence: Alex's attempt to dazzle his girlfriend with floccinaucicance flopped when he pronounced "masochist" as "MAY-soh-shist".
Etymology: floccinaucinihilipilification (the art of doing nothing, and a word contrived for this very purpose) + -ance
Esoterologism
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /ɛsəˈtɛɹəloʊˌdʒɪzm/
Sentence: Esoterologisms seldom win in Verbotomy.
Etymology: From esoteric + logism (as in neologism)
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COMMENTS:
We'll have to see what we can do to change that, then, won't we? Good word. - Clayton, 2007-06-26: 02:43:00
But this is so clear and not confusing that it can't be an example of a esoterologism. - petaj, 2007-06-26: 02:46:00
Ah, but a word sometimes appears learned and sound sophisticated because it actually is learned and sophisticated, and amazingly enough, this doesn't actually prevent it from being completely confusing. The obtainment of obfuscation is not mutually exclusive with technical accuracy. - ErWenn, 2007-06-27: 00:57:00
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Semanthick
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: semm ant hick
Sentence: his use of semanthicks at every opportunity was nonundiscomfitational.
Etymology: semantic, thick
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COMMENTS:
Good one. Semantrick would work too. - petaj, 2007-06-26: 07:59:00
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Grandiloquersatz
Created by: Lapper
Pronunciation: grand-ILL-oh-KWER-sats
Sentence: Mike mentioned to Jessica that Dr. Jim's "fancy medical jargon" really meant nothing; that he was grandiloquersatzing the whole thing, but she just looked at him as though some irony had passed over his head.
Etymology: Grandiloquent and ersatz.
Illiteration
Created by: jadenguy
Pronunciation: ill lit er ay shun
Sentence: His constant use of illiteration embiggened his his visage to the pleanthe who assumed that his archaic phrases were perfectly cromulent.
Etymology: illiterate alliteration
Intellexicon
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: inter-LEX-i-con
Sentence: "Don't you go raising your highbrows at me, I know when you are just using your intellexicon to appear smart"
Etymology: intellect + lexicon
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COMMENTS:
love the highbrows - Jabberwocky, 2007-06-26: 09:01:00
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Fauxparticiple
Created by: Alchemist
Pronunciation: foh-PAR-tuh-sip-uhl
Sentence: Challenge! Why everyone knows that a Brimbamble is a South American Songbird! Even though playing Scrabble with Hannah was combative, she could sling the darndest fauxparticiples.
Etymology: faux (pas) + participle
Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by shutz. Thank you shutz! ~ James
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