Tag: Schadenfreude

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Word of the Day – Weltschmerz

Word of the Day… not actually daily, but whenever I encounter one I think worth sharing and there are not too many on my landing page.  Words have always fascinated me, and I am a fan of all types of word play, especially puns.  I have a hard time not looking up a word that I am unfamiliar with or not sure of the definition. I like those authors that stretch me by throwing in unexpected terms.   

  • Noun: Weltschmerz
    1. mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state
    2. a mood of sentimental sadness
  • Note: Another word we borrowed from German and that we never gave back. Ranks up there with schadenfreude for me. A word I learned twice.  Once from one of my brothers attempting to show off his erudition, although it was the mot juste for that moment. And a second time from Mr. Sikeston who loves trivia.
  • Synonyms:
    1. ennui
    2. tiredness
    3. weariness
    4. apathy
    5. melancholy
    6. doldrums
    7. dispiritedness
  • Encountered: While watching an offering from Great Courses Plus , one on vocabulary, go figure.
  • Usage: When I asked daNet to use it in a sentence, I got this:

“After reading the news, she was overcome with a profound sense of weltschmerz, a deep melancholy for the world’s suffering and imperfections that felt too heavy to bear. “

Which is pretty much where I am these days. It depresses me so that as individuals, some of us, at least part of time, can be so noble, but as a species we are so incredibly stupid, base and at times downright evil. Of course, going back to my biology degree, the job a species is to propagate itself.  We have done an incredible job of that, actually too good.

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Word of the Day – Schadenfreude

  • Noun: Schadenfreude
    1.  Often capitalized: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others
    2. Did you know? Schadenfreude is a combination of the German nouns Schaden, meaning “damage” or “harm,” and Freude, meaning “joy.” So it makes sense that schadenfreude means joy over some harm or misfortune suffered by another.
  • Synonyms:
      1.  gloat
      2. epicaricacy
      3. malicious glee
      4. ghoulish joy
      5. lulz
  • Usage:
      1. “The great Burning Man Muddening of 2023 was almost scientifically engineered to evoke schadenfreude. Wealthy, insufferable attendees? Check. Improbable details, such as the fact that the rain was causing a bunch of three-eyed fairy shrimp, which can survive as eggs in sediment for decades, to come alive? Check. The fact that climate activists, angry about private jets and single-use plastics at the event, tried to shut down the festival and were jeered at by annoyed attendees, then vindicated by mother nature? Check. A situation that was uncomfortable but not life-threatening? Check! (I should note that one person did die at the festival, but organisers have clarified that it wasn’t related to the weather.)”
  • Encountered:
      1.   An article on Guardian.com: Why all the Burning Man schadenfreude? Where do I start …

One of my brothers used this word in a group text recently.  At the time I did not know the meaning, and little ole OCD me had to look it up.  Probably because I am now aware of it, the word has popped a few times in my readings and conversations.  Are you stalking me schadenfreude?

To see more Words of the Day, visit this link: Words of the Day