Verschlimmbessern
Verschlimmbessern is to make something worse precisely by trying to fix it — a German verb that damages itself in the act of forming.
Full definition of Verschlimmbessern →:: COMPARE ::
VerschlimmbessernvsVerschlimmbesserung
The short answer
The noun names the wreckage; the verb names the well-meaning hand that caused it. The verb is the more damning of the two, because it keeps the good intention inside the word rather than letting you off.
Side by side
| Aspect | Verschlimmbessern | Verschlimmbesserung |
|---|---|---|
| Is | The act | The result |
| Keeps | The intention | The damage |
| Dated to | 18th century | Mid-19th |
| Frequency | Rare | Rare |
What each one means
Verschlimmbesserung
The contrast above sets out how Verschlimmbesserung differs from Verschlimmbessern on the points that actually matter.