Verboticism: Modifail

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.
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Baboozle
Created by: melodydrama
Pronunciation: Bah-boo-zle
Sentence: The comment meant to hurry her husband along was a sad baboozle, he only walked slower and they missed their appointment.
Etymology: Baboon+bamboozle
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
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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Contradick
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: käntrədik
Sentence: Katy has just about had it with her boyfriend. He is such a contradick. Whenever she suggests a change to his behavior, he re-doubles his bad behavior to prove his independence.
Etymology: contradictory (mutually opposed or inconsistent) + dick (slang: jerk)
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.
Fortidefy
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: fôrtədifī
Sentence: Joanne knows all about the concept of reverse psychology. It is easy for her to get her children and husband to do what she wants by getting them to fortidefy her nagging.
Etymology: fortify (strengthen or invigorate) + defy (openly resist or refuse to obey)
Nagression
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: nag resh shun
Sentence: Rhoda Rage always lectured her spouse,Red, about the importance of defensive driving. She also pointed out potential hazards to him along the route...like a person crossing the road, a mile ahead. Or a red light, three blocks away. Although she could not drive herself, she was an expert on what he should be doing. But all her cautions became a form of nagression and irritated the heck out of Red. Her constant comments made him nervous and edgy. He took his frustration out on other motorists. They eventually split up, because he wanted to take another Rhoda and she did not want to see Red anymore.
Etymology: Nag (remind or urge constantly; bother persistently with trivial complaints;worry persistently) & Aggression (violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked;deliberately unfriendly behavior; the act of initiating hostilities;a disposition to behave aggressively;a feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack)
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
Disbehave
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: disbihāv
Sentence: When Barny thinks he is being nagged, he is sure to disbehave.
Etymology: dis (act or speak in a disrespectful way) + behave (fail to conduct oneself in a way that is acceptable to others; behave badly)
