Schadenfreude / noun / scha·​den·​freu·​de

Did you know there was a name for someone who takes pride in and gets joy from the pain and suffering of others? These people are experiencing Schadenfreude. The English definition of Schadenfreude denotes a gleeful enjoyment of the misery of others. It may be related to a mental health condition. We capitalize the name Schadenfreude because it is a term that describes human behavior.

Schadenfreude may be related to Freud's theory of damage or injury and its resulting effects on mental health, which was named after him. Freud postulated that humans are constantly seeking pleasure and avoiding pain, which leads to psychological problems.

In a Sentence

Psychology states that people experiencing Schadenfreude may be suffering from an underlying mental health condition under Freud's Theory of Damage.

The weeping widow was devastated when her sister delivered a Schadenfreude speech at her husband's funeral.

It is advisable to avoid keeping company with those prone to Schadenfreude if you want to preserve your mental health.

Etymology

Schadenfreude is a German word that literally means "harmjoy." The word was first used in the 17th century to describe pleasure taken from another person's misfortune. The word became popular in English around 1868, and its definition has not changed since its original entry into our language.

Synonym

Ruthlessness, Beastiality

Antonym

Empathy, Empathetic