gloat

[ gloht ]

verb (used without object)

1. to look at or think about with great or excessive, often smug or malicious, satisfaction:

   The opposing team gloated over our bad luck.

noun

1. an act or feeling of gloating.

gloat

/ ɡləʊt /

verb

1. introften foll byover to dwell (on) with malevolent smugness or exultation

noun

1. the act of gloating

Derived Forms

• ˈgloatingly, adverb
• ˈgloater, noun

Other Words From

• gloat·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gloat¹

1565–75; perhaps akin to Old Norse glotta “to smile scornfully”; compare German glotzen “to stare”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gloat¹

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse glotta to grin, Middle High German glotzen to stare

Synonym Study

See glare ¹.

Example Sentences

Ysabel Jurado had every reason to gloat when I caught up with her earlier this week at the Highland Park home she shares with her father and teenage daughter.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Trump prevailed despite a significant gender gap between female and male voters, with Trump’s opponents expressing deep distress over his victory while his supporters publicly gloated about those same people's pain.

From Salon

Burkina Faso's armed forces say they are investigating a gruesome video that purports to show military volunteers hacking apart a dead body with machetes, while gloating to the camera.

From BBC

Three is either a charm or a curse – depending on your point of view – and there are plenty of people gloating or kvetching today.

From Salon

On Fox and Friends, there was much gloating as commentators argued the liberal establishment — not just politicians, but news outlets — had misread the will of the American people.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crow
• exult
• rejoice
• relish