WordValeschadenfreude
pleasure at someone else's misfortune
In more detail
a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction that you get from someone else's troubles or bad luck
Examples
- She felt a touch of schadenfreude when her rival failed the exam.
How to use schadenfreude
Schadenfreude is a German loanword used in English to describe the somewhat guilty pleasure taken in others' misfortunes. It carries a judgmental or self-aware tone, often used when acknowledging an unkind feeling. It is more specific and psychologically pointed than simple 'malice' and appears frequently in literary, conversational, and media contexts when analyzing human nature or social dynamics.
Common phrases
- feel schadenfreude
- a touch of schadenfreude
- schadenfreude at someone's expense
- pure schadenfreude
- admit to schadenfreude
Synonyms
malice · glee · spite · delight in misfortune
Opposites
sympathy · compassion · empathy
A common mistake
Learners sometimes treat it as a simple synonym for 'happiness' or 'joy' without recognizing the crucial element that it must involve someone else's suffering or failure.
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