gloat

To gloat means to show smug pleasure about your own success, especially when it happens at someone else's expense, or about another person's failure or bad luck. It's an unpleasant kind of boasting, marked by self-satisfaction and a sense of "I won, and I want you to feel it too." For example: "He gloated over his opponent's mistake during the debate," or "She couldn't resist gloating after getting the job instead of him."

This isn't simply being proud or happy. The word usually adds a cruel edge: the person is not just pleased, but pleased in a way that draws attention to someone else's loss, mistake, or disappointment. You might say, "He was gloating over the fact that his friend had failed the exam," which suggests he took pleasure in his friend's disappointment.

The word carries a negative connotation and is often associated with arrogance and unkindness. It implies an insensitive display of triumph. While it can be used humorously to describe someone's overly enthusiastic celebration, it generally suggests poor sportsmanship or a lack of empathy.

Historically, the word was linked to the idea of a mocking stare or a scornful grin. Today, it describes any expression of smug satisfaction at another's expense. So, if you find yourself feeling an urge to rub someone's nose in their failure, remember that resisting the temptation to gloat is often a sign of good character.