Vote for the best verboticism.

'Omigod! What happened to your nose?'

DEFINITION: v. To make something worse while attempting to make it better. n. A bad improvement.

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.

Remuddle

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: re-MUD-l

Sentence: Simpson had set out to completely redesign and redo the interior of his home but lacking proper skills and experience his effort turned out to be a hideous remuddle rather than the upgrade he had envisioned.

Etymology: Blend of 'remodel' (redo or makeover) and 'muddle' (to mix up in a confused or bungling manner)

| Comments and Points

Conaversion

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: con a ver shun

Sentence: After watching way too many Improve Your Garden style shows on tv,the Reynolds family had decided to create a tropical getaway in their backyard. "Puerto Backyardo" they would call it, when friends asked where they'd be spending their vacation. They dreamed of Mai-Tai's served on the pool deck, luaus and barbecues with friends and a restful oasis after their hectic workdays. But Fate has a funny way of throwing cold water on your reveries. Instead of a dream home, their home had become a living nightmare of a money pit. Yes, the Reynolds' home renovation had truly become a conaversion. Due to poor planning, poor workmanship, misestimates,a fisticuffs with some of the sub-contractors, which involved police action and failure to get proper planning permission, they were left with a mess. No workable plumbing; a sinkhole, instead of a swimming pool;a huge fine for failing to dial-before-you-dig and the subsequent costs to repair the ruptured gas mains;a cease and desist work order from the county;a tools-down job action from the workers and various lawsuits from neighbours whose homes were also affected by this unnatural disaster. Not to mention, a few thousand dollars worth of tropical vegetation drying out in a shed, because there was nowhere to plant them. Serves them right for not doing their homework and checking out the credentials of their contractors, "The 3 Stooges Landscape Co." Nyuk, Nyuk, Nyuk...

Etymology: conversion ( the act of changing from one use or function or purpose to another;an event that results in a transformation)& aversion(a feeling of intense dislike;disinclined;opposed)

| Comments and Points

Wimprovement

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: wim proov ment

Sentence: When Cathy met Todd in High School, he was a brawny fellow, but lacking in refinement. Ten years later, they were wed, had 2 kids and Todd was now a big pudding of a man who was so whipped and broken by the demanding Cathy. She considered Todd her greatest wimprovement.

Etymology: Wimp (a person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy) & Improvement (betterment;change;progress)

| Comments and Points

Remuddle

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: ree - MUDL

Sentence: Wilford had set out to completely redesign and redo the interior of his home but lacking proper skills and experience his effort turned out to be a hideous remuddle rather than the upgrade he had envisioned.

Etymology: Blend of remodel and muddle...to mix up in a confused or bungling manner

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

excellent - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-15: 11:41:00

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

| Comments and Points

Badderment

petaj

Created by: petaj

Pronunciation: bad-er-ment

Sentence: The government's social engineering activities were well intentioned but ended up for the badderment of all. It was really more like woeful engineering.

Etymology: bad + betterment

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

Good one! - Mustang, 2008-05-15: 21:47:00

Oh, this word works nicely! Good job. - Tigger, 2008-05-15: 23:33:00

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

| Comments and Points

Incorrectify

Created by: stache

Pronunciation: ĭn'kə-rěk'tə-fī'

Sentence: "You can't polish a turd," Garvin said when David showed him how he had used accessories to incorrectify his '79 Ford Pinto.

Etymology: incur, to bring upon oneself, as in, to incur the ridicule of the public; rectify, verb form of rectum, part of the human anatomy often euphemized as a term of disparagement.

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

nice - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-15: 11:45:00

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

| Comments and Points

Faltercation

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: fal/tur/cay/shun

Sentence: The alteration quickly became a faltercation once the bandages came off in the doctor's office.

Etymology: alter + falter + the ensuing altercation

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

Sounds like some of my home improvement projects. lol - Mustang, 2008-05-15: 21:46:00

Excellent blend! - Tigger, 2008-05-15: 23:31:00

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

| Comments and Points

Reekonstruction

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: reek on struk shun

Sentence: "how do you feel after your latest reekonstruction, mr Jackson?" the waiting media asked. "I'm bad" he said, "I'm bad"

Etymology: reek as in stinking, reconstruction

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

nice reference to MJ - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-15: 11:45:00

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

| Comments and Points

Sobadisticimprovement

Created by: chrissimo87

Pronunciation: so-bad-istic-improvement

Sentence: I think you will find that was top of the 100 sobadisticimprovments awards this year

Etymology:

| Comments and Points

Adworsity

Created by: bookowl

Pronunciation: Ad/wurs/itee

Sentence: They suffered further adworsity when the contractor hung the windows upsidedown.

Etymology: add + worse + adversity

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-05-15: 00:01:00
Today's definition is inspired by author and philosopher, Mark Kingwell who I saw last night speaking about "Social Change". He reminded us that not all change is good change. And noted that in German they have word to describe such bad improvements -- Schlimmbesserung -- which we don't have in English. And so it's today's challenge. Thanks Mark! ~ James