1. Meaning and distinction – Commenters agree that Verschlimmbesserung refers to an attempted improvement that makes things worse, often unintentionally, and is different from concepts like enshittification (which implies deliberate degradation).
- “It's not identical to enshittification either, the latter implies intention; verschlimmbessern you can (and probably often will) do by accident.” – eqvinox
- “A 'Verschlimmbesserung' is something that makes one part better and another part worse. If it only makes things worse you don't need a German word for it…” – OroPla
- “My understanding is that a Verschlimmbesserung stems from a genuine intent to improve something, even though it ultimately has the opposite effect.” – renehsz
2. Usage in German – Opinions split on how common the word is today; many note it’s heard more among older speakers or in specific trades, while younger Germans rarely use it.
- “I do think it's part of many people's vocabulary… But it's definitely a word that gets used when the occasion calls for it…” – ahf8Aithaex7Nai
- “I probably haven’t used it once in the last 15 years and have heard it maybe twice.” – icantevenhold (lifelong German speaker)
- “It's uncommon among younger people, but I frequently hear craftsmen say it (who are over 50).” – remuskaos
- “It's certainly used – not in the top 100, but if the situation calls for it, it's not unexpected.” – looperhacks
3. English equivalents / translation proposals – Participants suggest various coinages (misprovement, disimprovement, worseprovement, misimprovement) and discuss which feel natural to English speakers.
- “What about 'worseprovement'” – arjan_sch
- “As a German, I might not have thought of that but would absolutely use it to translate Verschlimmbesserung. Does it sound 'normal' enough…” – eqvinox
- “It's definitely a normal-sounding, memorable word for us native English speakers.” – inanutshellus
- “The sibling post's 'disimprovement' sounds more natural…” – ThrowawayR2
- “I prefer ‘misprovement’, as in ‘misfeature’.” – layer8