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.
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.
Surefail
Created by: rebelvin
Pronunciation: sure+fail
Sentence: He always surefails at the start, even before giving himself a chance to succeed at a project.
Etymology: sure+fail
Incompambition
Created by: pieceof314
Pronunciation: in comp am bih shun
Sentence: Jake was no stranger to incompambition. He learned quickly in his youthful slacker days that hard work and brains only stiffled one's rise to the top. If you become too important for your position, there is no incentive to promote you. Jake never put his best foot forward and thus he carefully fumbled his way to the top.
Etymology: incompetent + ambition
Faulterego
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: fal - tur - ee - go
Sentence: Stephanie has a strong faulterego. Those who know her well realize that she is an intelligent, capable woman. She is so good at downplaying her strengths in favor of her weaknesses that at times, she seems like another person.
Etymology: fault, falter, alter ego (An alter ego (Latin, "the other I") is a second self, a second personality or persona within a person. It was coined in the early nineteenth century when schizophrenia was first described by early psychologists. A person with an alter ego is said to lead a double life)
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COMMENTS:
good one - Nosila, 2009-06-09: 11:08:00
Got my vote - DrWebsterIII, 2009-06-09: 13:33:00
Very good! - Mustang, 2009-06-09: 18:15:00
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Manglomaniac
Created by: karenanne
Pronunciation: MAN gah lo MAIN ee ak
Sentence: Dexter Knott made sure that everyone knew how difficult most tasks were for him and how slowly he worked, so that they wouldn't ask much of him. He was a notable manglomaniac, pointing out how he would probably mangle whatever responsibility was laid at his doorstep, and then suggesting that someone else would do a better job. He made such comments as, "Why don't you give the project to Lee Derr? He thrives on 'management opportunities.'" As a result, he mostly got to slack off while his more capable and ambitious colleagues basically got used. In the end, since they were all on a set pay scale, they all got paid the same.
Etymology: mangle + megalomaniac
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COMMENTS:
Lee Derr...like it! - Nosila, 2010-07-03: 22:43:00
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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)
Mignify
Created by: Pyrrhocephalous
Pronunciation: Mig'-nif-ai
Sentence: "Could you wash the dishes for me, dear?" "Sure, Mommy! Hopefully I won't drop any like I did yesterday. Or bend the spoods too hard. Or accidently toss any on Fluffball..." "Actually, Suzie, why don't you go play with your friends? I can wash them" Suzie successfully mignified her way out of doing the dishes.
Etymology: Minimum + Magnify, since a mignifier is magnifying his minimum ability.
Wimperfector
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: wim per fek tor
Sentence: Wayne was such a wimperfector that when he was absent, his productivity at work went up. His boss wrote on his annual review:"I can assure you that no person would be better for this job. We are very fortunate to get this person to work for us."
Etymology: Wimp (a weak person) & Imperfect(not perfect; defective or inadequate) & Perfector (a person who completes or makes something perfect)
Faultastic
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: fĂ´ltastik
Sentence: Alex is a faultastic boss. In an effort to appear humble he constantly pointing his own foibles. Whenever he is called on to present his accomplishments he sings his own praises in faultsetto.
Etymology: fault (an unattractive or unsatisfactory feature) + fantastic (extraordinarily good or attractive)
Defectitude
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: de-fect-ta-tude
Sentence: Sally's defectitude about her skills ensured that she would remain at the bottom of the typing pool for her entire career because she convinced everyone else that she lacked the ability to perform competently.
Etymology: defect: imperfection, deficiency, shortcoming + attitude: belief, outlook, approach
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