Washington Post's Style Invitational

The Washington Post's Style Invitational also asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. This list is also referenced as a Mensa Invitational called, "A Work of Literary Genius".

The winners are:

  1. Intaxication (n.): Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
  2. Reintarnation (n.): Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
  3. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
  4. Foreploy (v): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
  5. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
  6. Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
  7. Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
  8. Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
  9. Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.
  10. Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
  11. Karmageddon (n): It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
  12. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
  13. Glibido (v): All talk and no action.
  14. Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
  15. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
  16. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
  17. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the
    fruit you're eating.
  18. And the pick of the literature:Ignoranus (n): A person who's both stupid and an asshole.