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to gloat

to gloat

60 6.9
Show pleasure about your success or someone else's failure in a way that makes others feel bad
  • verb
  • /ɡloʊt/
translation icon : regodearse
  • I'm surprised you didn't come to gloat.
  • gloat over a defeat

And it's not that like I'm showing it just to gloat or to market or whatever.

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Examples

  • The politician began to gloat over his opponent's misfortune during the debate.

  • - Did you come to gloat?

  • He'll want you close so he can gloat over you.

  • But now is not the time to gloat.

  • I have no wish to gloat, Merlin.

  • You come here to gloat, Mister?

  • Okay, so when are you going to stop gloating and start trying to work together?

    Blog text (5)
  • But I didn't have time to gloat.

  • Sometimes newspapers in either the U.S. or Britain gloat over the demise of their cousins across the Atlantic.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Beth and Roger were virtually gloating, as if the important thing about the die-off was their predictions coming true.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

to brag
vsto gloat
191 2.7

To talk in a proud way about yourself or what you have

adds a tone of taking pleasure in others' failures rather than mere showiness
to boast
vsto gloat
96 3.1

To talk proudly about your achievements to impress people

centres on feeling smug satisfaction often at others' expense rather than only impressing
to crow
vsto gloat
19 5.6

To talk proudly about your success or skill

focuses more on enjoying others' misfortune than mere self-importance
to toot your own horn
vsto gloat
  • Informal
7 7.5

To talk proudly about things you have done

often implies taking smug pleasure that may make others feel bad
to crow about
vsto gloat
6 7.9

To brag in a way that annoys other people

expresses pleasure that usually adds a sense of rubbing others' faults in
to exult
vsto gloat
  • Formal
6 7.0

Feel or show great joy after a success

carries more smug pleasure aimed at others' misfortune rather than pure joy
to glory
vsto gloat
4 5.3

To take great pride in something

often involves pleasure that intentionally makes others feel belittled or worse

To smile in a proud, secret way because you feel pleased with yourself

shows pleasure that often delights in others' failure or discomfort
to brag excessively
vsto gloat
6.2

To talk too proudly about yourself or what you have done

focuses more on taking smug pleasure in others' failures rather than simple exaggeration
to gasconade
vsto gloat
  • Archaic
9.9

To talk about yourself to show you are more important

leans more toward enjoying others' downfall or embarrassment than just attracting praise
to mog
vsto gloat
  • Slang
9.9

To brag about what you have done

is more about delighting in others' setbacks than merely being flashy
to couldn't help but crow
vsto gloat
  • Informal
9.3

Be unable to stop yourself from bragging about a success

is more about savoring others' failure or embarrassment than just unstoppable talk

How Smug

to gloat
60 6.9
to revel
29 6.3
to smile
1.0

Surface Forms

gloat infinitive
gloated past
gloated past participle
gloating present participle
gloats third person singular

Etymology

The word gloat comes from an old word meaning 'to look' or 'to stare', so imagine someone staring with secret pleasure at another person's trouble. That's why to gloat now means to show proud, often mean, pleasure about your own success or someone else's failure.