Another Word For Schadenfreude

Meaning

Schadenfreude is a German word that describes the feeling of pleasure or satisfaction that someone may experience when they see another person experiencing misfortune or failure. It’s that sometimes guilty feeling of joy when someone else has a setback, even if you might not openly admit it.

Synonyms

• Joy in others' misfortune
• Malicious pleasure
• Glee
• Delight in another's pain

Antonyms

• Compassion
• Empathy
• Sympathy
• Altruism

Etymology

The word "schadenfreude" is derived from the German language, where "Schaden" means "harm" or "damage," and "Freude" means "joy." Together, they literally translate to "harm-joy."

Examples

1. Despite her best efforts to be supportive, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of schadenfreude when her rival stumbled during the presentation.
2. Watching the actor she disliked fail at the box office gave her an uncomfortable sense of schadenfreude.
3. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't shake off the schadenfreude he felt after hearing about his former boss's troubles.