gloating

[ gloh-ting ]

noun

1. the act of looking at or speaking or thinking about something with excessive, usually smug or malicious satisfaction:

   For all our gloating about how progressive we are on issues of race and sexual orientation, we lag behind on some other human rights issues.

adjective

1. looking at or speaking or thinking about something in this way:

   Asked about the protester's arrest, the mayor said with a gloating smile, "I wish him luck.”

Other Words From

• gloat·ing·ly adverb
• un·gloat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gloating¹

First recorded in 1575–85; gloat ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun; gloat ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

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

Normally, politicians refrain from gloating over economic numbers perceived to be poor, and instead express sympathy for Americans who are struggling financially.

From Los Angeles Times

"Tata is too shrewd and too shy to be caught gloating about his successes like some territory-grabbing East India Company nabob," the journalist later wrote.

From BBC