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. 1.  gloat
     2. epicaricacy
     3. malicious glee
     4. ghoulish joy
     5. lulz
• Usage:
  1. 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. 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?

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