gloat

American  

[gloht] / gloʊt /

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.

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noun

1. an act or feeling of gloating.

gloat British  

/ ɡləʊt /

verb

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

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noun

1. the act of gloating

Related Words

See glare ¹.

Other Word Forms

• gloater noun
• gloatingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of gloat

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

Example Sentences

Had the wretched fellow come just to gloat, or did he suspect something?

From Literature

I feel overwhelmingly grateful to her for being sad about their breakup instead of gloating.

From Literature

And so, when Dubai and other parts of the United Arab Emirates were targeted by some 1,400 Iranian missiles and drones over the past several days, the reaction abroad was often gloating and snark.

From The Wall Street Journal

No way I was going to allow him to gloat face-to-face.

From Literature

There is a temptation to gloat, laugh at and mock them, but that may be a trap which further imperil American democracy.

From Salon

Related Words

• crow
• exult
• rejoice
• relish