schadenfreude

American  

[shahd-n-froi-duh] / ˈʃɑd nˌfrɔɪ də /

noun

1. satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.

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Schadenfreude British  

/ ˈʃaːdənfrɔydə /

noun

1. delight in another's misfortune

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Etymology

Origin of schadenfreude

1890–95; < German, equivalent to Schaden harm + Freude joy

Explanation

When another person's bad luck secretly makes you feel good, that's schadenfreude. Your brother's rejection from a college that also rejected you might give you a twinge of schadenfreude. If you're fired from your difficult job, no one can blame you for a bit of schadenfreude as you watch your replacement struggle with your old tasks. This German word perfectly captures that satisfied feeling everyone gets at times when someone else runs into misfortune. In German, Schadenfreude literally means "damage-joy," and it's always spelled with a capital S. The word came into English use in the 1920s, and you can spell it with a small s if you prefer.

Example Sentences

On social media, the schadenfreude has verged on gleeful, with the public picking up on even the smallest references to confirm their priors and their thirst for justice is palpable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

If the world was looking to extend its schadenfreude, Paltrow was all too happy to be the one to push it further.

From Salon • Dec. 22, 2025

But much of the film’s popularity probably stemmed from that reliable magnet of interest, schadenfreude, as the Siegels’ dream of living like American royalty ran aground when the Great Recession hit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

Delicious, especially if you enjoy your schadenfreude served piping hot.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 20, 2025

For all that there was just that touch of schadenfreude in his tone that promised that he for one would do his best to bear up if it wasn't.

From A Crooked Mile by Onions, Oliver [pseud.]