Definition

1. Verb:

   • To gaze at, think about, or dwell on something with great and often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or joy, especially regarding one's own success or another's misfortune.

2. Noun:

   • An act or instance of gloating; a feeling of or expression of malicious satisfaction.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:

  • It is unkind to gloat over your rival's failure.
  • He couldn't help but gloat about winning the championship.
  • She gloated inwardly when her prediction came true.

• Noun:

  • His smile was a gloat of pure triumph.
  • She couldn't hide her gloat after getting the promotion.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The verb gloat is typically followed by the prepositions over, about, or upon. It carries a strong negative connotation of smugness and ungenerous feelings.
  • The media seemed to gloat over the celebrity's scandal.
  • He spent the evening gloating about his clever investment.

Variants and Related Words

• Gloating (adj): Expressing or characterized by gloating.
  • He gave her a gloating smile.
• Gloatingly (adv): In a gloating manner.
  • He spoke gloatingly of his victory.

Synonyms

• Verb: Crow, exult, revel, triumph, relish, delight in.
• Noun: Smugness, self-satisfaction, crowing, exultation.

Antonyms

• Verb: Commiserate, sympathize, regret.
• Noun: Sympathy, commiseration, regret.

Idioms and Phrases

• To gloat over someone's misfortune: To take excessive pleasure in another person's bad luck.
  • True friends offer support; they don't gloat over your misfortune.

Noun

1. malicious satisfaction

Verb

1. gaze at or think about something with great self-satisfaction, gratification, or joy
2. dwell on with satisfaction