Schadenfreude

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈʃɑː.dənˌfɹɔɪ.də/

Definitions

1. A sense of satisfaction experienced when observing the problems or failures of others
2. The enjoyment or happiness felt when one sees another in a less fortunate situation
3. The feeling of pleasure derived from witnessing another person's misfortune or hardship

Etymology: German "Schadenfreude" is built from two ordinary words. "Schaden" means damage or misfortune, and "Freude" means joy, so the compound literally names joy at someone else's misfortune. Both parts trace back to very old German roots: "Schaden" descends from a Proto-Germanic word, and "Freude" from a Proto-Germanic word with relatives across the Germanic languages, so the sense of joy and harm is as old as the language itself. English did not translate the word but simply took it over whole, leaving the German spelling and pronunciation largely intact. Such a loan, with no adaptation, is called unadapted. The English borrowing was not a quick one: the term became widely used in English only in the late 20th century. The word's popularity owes a lot to an unlikely source. It likely reached mainstream English through an episode of "The Simpsons," which helped push it into everyday speech.

Synonyms: gloating, malicious joy, satisfaction, pleasure, delight

Antonyms: compassion, sympathy, empathy, pity, concern