schadenfreude

noun, often capitalized

scha·den·freu·de | \ ˈshä-dᵊn-ˌfrȯi-də

How to pronounce schadenfreude (audio)

\

Definition of schadenfreude

: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

Examples of schadenfreude in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The busts offer tales of danger and vengeance, and there’s nothing the internet loves more than schadenfreude. — Hanna Kozlowska, Quartz, "There’s a global movement of Facebook vigilantes who hunt pedophiles," 24 July 2019 The wreckage of America’s political climate, mixed with social media and online bullying, can seem like a schadenfreude buffet. — K.n.c., The Economist, "How to increase empathy and unite society," 7 June 2019 There's schadenfreude at play in that enjoyment, too, of course. — Emily Dreyfuss, WIRED, "2019 Needed a Hit as Bleak as Chernobyl," 4 June 2019 For some, there is schadenfreude — the pure entertainment value in watching a onetime liberal hero, even a controversial one, be declared a heretic. — Joe Coscarelli, New York Times, "In Kanye West, the Right Sees Truth-Telling and a Rare A-List Ally," 27 Apr. 2018 Under these circumstances, empathy evaporates or even reverses into schadenfreude, or enjoyment of the other side’s suffering. — K.n.c., The Economist, "How to increase empathy and unite society," 7 June 2019 When management would move the pictures around (or, worse, banish one entirely) in accordance with the ebb and flow of their subjects’ successes, the reshuffling prompted all sorts of glee and schadenfreude among other customers. — Town & Country, "Wall of Shame: What Happens to Controversial Portrait Walls in the #MeToo Era?," 30 Nov. 2018 In some corners, Fox News insiders were enjoying a certain schadenfreude in Kelly’s NBC failure. — Sarah Ellison, The Seattle Times, "Megyn Kelly’s NBC morning show is canceled," 26 Oct. 2018 That Cohen is the bozo in this little dunk-tank exercise is an occasion for unmistakable schadenfreude. — Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, "Stormy Daniels Is Running Rings Around Trump's Lawyer," 9 Mar. 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.

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for schadenfreude

schadenfreude

noun

English Language Learners Definition of schadenfreude

formal : a feeling of enjoyment that comes from seeing or hearing about the troubles of other people

See the full definition for schadenfreude in the English Language Learners Dictionary

Comments on schadenfreude

What made you want to look up schadenfreude? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

brandish

to shake or wave menacingly

Test Your Vocabulary

Summer 2019 Words of the Day Quiz

Which is a synonym of desideratum?

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ