Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions Lyrics History Colors (New!) Easter eggs (New!)

Literary notes about gloat (AI summary)

In literature, the term "gloat" is often used to convey a sense of smug, self-satisfied delight that accompanies another’s misfortune or even one’s own calculated victory. Authors employ it to illustrate complex emotional dynamics—ranging from the quiet, internal satisfaction of overcoming obstacles to the overt, sometimes callous, revelry in another’s suffering. At times, characters are depicted as eagerly anticipating the opportunity to gloat over their eventual successes ([1], [2]), while in other contexts the word underscores the cruelty of characters who relish the misery of others or exploit high drama, as when they gloat over the visible effects of verbal sparring or physical defeat ([3], [4]). This multifaceted usage enriches narrative tension and highlights themes of revenge, pride, and the darker corners of human satisfaction ([5], [6]).
  1. "But I want to do something first that I can gloat over later."
    — from Talents, Incorporated by Murray Leinster
  2. "And now I'm well I find I can't sit here and gloat all to myself.
    — from The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
  3. It was not enough for her to have the last word; she must be left in a position to gloat upon its visible effect.
    — from The Brentons by Anna Chapin Ray
  4. The betrayer was among those who crowded round the stake to gloat over the agonies of the victim.
    — from A Vendetta of the Desert by W. C. (William Charles) Scully
  5. How much greater, therefore, her satisfaction if she could bring, and gloat over, bodily or mental pain to someone who had made her suffer?
    — from The Hawk of Egypt by Joan Conquest
  6. To gloat so over the wounds and deaths of the enemy.
    — from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, BlueSky


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Threepeat Redux