schadenfreude

noun, often capitalized scha·den·freu·de \ ˈshä-dᵊn-ˌfrȯi-də \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Definition of schadenfreude

: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

See schadenfreude defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of schadenfreude from the Web

While New York officials reacted soberly to Schneiderman's departure, those in President Donald Trump's inner circle oozed schadenfreude on social media.

— NBC News, "New York prosecutors probing ousted A.G. Schneiderman as governor calls allegations 'disturbing'," 8 May 2018
For anyone who works for a beleaguered professional news organization — over which the revenue-sucking, content-stealing Facebook has reigned of late with a palpable glee — there was major schadenfreude to be had on Thursday.

— chris jones, chicagotribune.com, "Delete Facebook and save your friends: What Mark Zuckerberg's shocking admissions can teach us about social media," 22 Mar. 2018
The episode unleashed plenty of schadenfreude, and some criticism, on social media.

— katrin bennhold, New York Times, "A Far-Right Leader Went for a Swim in Germany. His Clothes Went for a Walk.," 6 June 2018
An audience must be able to recognize the exceedingly uncomfortable nature of an exchange while also indulging in a scoop of schadenfreude.

— megan farokhmanesh, The Verge, "This viral news segment about an inflatable slide is an exquisite train wreck," 5 June 2018
South Korea often brims with schadenfreude when a chaebol scion is publicly humiliated.

— choe sang-hun, New York Times, "Sister of Korean ‘Nut Rage’ Heiress Accused of Throwing Her Own Tantrum," 13 Apr. 2018
But while some of this week's memes were similarly dada genius ... ... many others were pure schadenfreude: Senators and Censorship Zuckerberg wasn't the only one to have his foibles under the internet's microscope.

— emma grey ellis, WIRED, "Mark Zuckerberg's Testimony Birthed an Oddly Promising Memepocalypse," 11 Apr. 2018
This one has an extra dash of schadenfreude for Packers fans.

— jr radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Masters contender Tony Finau and Bucks star Jabari Parker have a family connection (and some video of other sports celebration injuries)," 6 Apr. 2018
Granted, rewriting history is an inherently clumsy form of justice, and bringing down championship banners serves no interests save deterrence and schadenfreude.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "U of L PAC leader's a 'lumberjack' who needs a sharper ax against the NCAA | Tim Sullivan," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'schadenfreude.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.