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Glite Dictionary
gloatingly

gloatingly

7.9
In a way that shows pleasure when someone else fails or has trouble
  • adverb
  • /ˈɡloʊtɪŋli/
translation icon : con satisfacción maliciosa
  • He gloatingly boasted about winning the game while his friends had lost.

Now I shall learn, he said, half gloatingly.

Examples

  • My Finnish friends regarded me gloatingly as I sipped.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • After his rival's failure, he smiled gloatingly, reveling in his victory.

  • She watched gloatingly as her competitor stumbled during the presentation.

Synonyms

smugly
vsgloatingly
8 6.0

In a proud way that shows you think you are better than others

shows pleasure specifically at other people's misfortune rather than general self-importance

Antonyms

sympathetically
10 3.3

In a kind, understanding way toward someone's feelings

compassionately
4 3.0

In a kind way that shows care for people who are suffering

How Smug

gloatingly
7.9
smugly
8 6.0
contentedly
8 3.2

Surface Forms

gloatingly positive

Morphology

gloatingly = gloating (transparent) = gloat + ing + ly

Formed from the adjective/participle 'gloating' + the adverbial suffix '-ly'; the meaning is directly derived from 'gloat'.

Etymology

The word gloatingly comes from the verb gloat, which originally meant 'to look' or 'to stare' with pleasure at someone else's trouble. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine someone secretly 'glowing' with pleasure while watching another person fail, so to act gloatingly is to show smug pleasure at someone else's misfortune.