gloat

[gloht]

verb (used without object)

to look at or think about with great or excessive, often smug or malicious, satisfaction: The opposing team gloated over our bad luck.

noun

an act or feeling of gloating.

Origin of gloat

1565–75; perhaps akin to Old Norse glotta to smile scornfully; compare German glotzen to stare

Related formsgloat·er, noungloat·ing·ly, adverbun·gloat·ing, adjective

Synonyms for gloat

1. See glare¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gloater

Historical Examples of gloater

Nero was not a great success as an Emperor, but as a gloater he has no rival in history.
Remarks
Bill Nye
Captain Quinnox glided into the room behind the Prince and gently closed the door, unnoticed by the gloater.
Graustark
George Barr McCutcheon
I sit there and gloat until by rights I ought to be required to take out a gloater's license.
Cobb's Anatomy
Irvin S. Cobb

British Dictionary definitions for gloater

gloat

verb

(intr often foll by over) to dwell (on) with malevolent smugness or exultation

noun

the act of gloating

Derived Formsgloater, noungloatingly, adverb

Word Origin for gloat

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse glotta to grin, Middle High German glotzen to stare

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for gloater

gloat

1570s, "to look at furtively," from a Scandinavian source, cf. Old Norse glotta "to grin, smile scornfully, show the teeth," Swedish dialectal glotta "to peep;" or from Middle High German glotzen "to stare, gape." Sense of "to look at with malicious satisfaction" first recorded 1748. Related: Gloated; gloating. As a noun, from 1640s with sense of "side-glance;" 1899 as "act of gloating."