gloating

American  

[gloh-ting] / ˈgloʊ tɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of looking at or speaking or thinking about something with excessive, usually smug or malicious satisfaction.

   For all our gloating about how progressive we are on issues of race and sexual orientation, we lag behind on some other human rights issues.

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adjective

1. looking at or speaking or thinking about something in this way.

   Asked about the protester's arrest, the mayor said with a gloating smile, "I wish him luck.”

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ungloating
  adjective
• gloatingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of gloating

First recorded in 1575–85; gloat ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun; gloat ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who poured a lot of time, money, coordination, pressure, and campaigning into the outcome, was understandably gloating following the result.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2026

I won’t join in the gloating of some critics at the hundreds who have lost their jobs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

There was no gloating from John about that.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2024

Three is either a charm or a curse – depending on your point of view – and there are plenty of people gloating or kvetching today.

From Salon • Nov. 7, 2024

“Don’t bother looking for it in the dumpsters either,” Mom said with this real gloating smirk.

From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle