gloat about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gloat about" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to excessively and proudly boast or celebrate something, often at the expense of others. Example: During the graduation ceremony, the valedictorian couldn't help but gloat about her perfect GPA and numerous scholarship offers, causing some of her classmates to feel envy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And is this something we should gloat about?

The New York Times

"We knew about ifm's extreme alt-right views as early as November 2016, when he came back to ZP to gloat about Trump winning the election".

Vice

Some gloat about it.

The New York Times

"You don't want to gloat about it.

The New York Times - Sports

Considering all that, McGehee could gloat about the Cubs' mistake in letting him go.

The New York Times

It's a nice story, currently enabling Jets fans to gloat about their team's second life.

The New York Times - Sports

Madrid's bilingual program, however, is giving the region's politicians something to gloat about.

The New York Times

Of course, being right is not always something to gloat about.

The New York Times

He also seemed to gloat about the security precautions being taken in response to Sept. 11.

The New York Times

Livingstone has refused to gloat about the collapse of Metronet and declined the opportunity again yesterday.

The Guardian - Business

Owners of Volkswagen's turbodiesel models visit online forums to gloat about the hard-won results from their hypermiling experiments.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gloat about" when you want to convey a sense of smug satisfaction, often at someone else's expense. Ensure the context aligns with this negative connotation to avoid misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "gloat about" when you simply want to express pride in an achievement. "Gloat about" carries a negative connotation of smugness and superiority, so use it carefully to ensure it aligns with your intended meaning. Consider alternatives like "take pride in" or "be proud of" for more neutral expressions of accomplishment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gloat about" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe someone expressing excessive satisfaction or triumph, often in a malicious or smug manner. Ludwig shows many examples of this phrase being used in news and media.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gloat about" is a common verb phrase used to describe someone who is expressing excessive and often malicious satisfaction or pride. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in written English. The phrase most often appears in news and media contexts, and carries a negative connotation, implying smugness and superiority. While there are several alternatives, such as "boast about" or "revel in", they don't always capture the specific nuance of malicious pleasure associated with gloating. When using "gloat about", it's important to be mindful of the context to avoid misinterpretations and unintended offense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

boast about

Focuses more on the act of praising oneself, whereas "gloat about" emphasizes satisfaction at another's expense.

brag about

Similar to "boast about", but often implies a more informal and perhaps less refined manner of self-praise.

smug about

Highlights a sense of self-satisfaction and superiority, often with a hint of arrogance.

crow about

Suggests a loud and often irritating display of pride or satisfaction.

revel in

Captures the feeling of intense enjoyment and celebration, but without necessarily highlighting another's misfortune.

vaunt

Implies making excessive claims about one's achievements or qualities.

take pride in

Emphasizes a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, but lacks the negative connotation of gloating.

exult in

Expresses great joy and jubilation, but without necessarily implying any malice or schadenfreude.

triumph over

Focuses on overcoming a challenge or opponent, with the gloating aspect being implied rather than explicit.

show off

Focuses on displaying one's achievements or possessions to impress others, often perceived negatively.

FAQs

How can I use "gloat about" in a sentence?

You can use "gloat about" to describe someone who is boasting excessively, often with malicious pleasure, about their success or another's misfortune. For example, "He couldn't help but "gloat about" his promotion after his colleague was laid off."

What's the difference between "gloat about" and "boast about"?

"Boast about" generally means to speak with excessive pride and self-satisfaction. "Gloat about" also involves excessive pride but adds the element of malicious pleasure, often at someone else's expense. Gloating implies a more vindictive or unkind sentiment.

Are there situations where it's inappropriate to use "gloat about"?

Yes, it's inappropriate to use "gloat about" in situations where you want to express genuine pride or happiness without any intention of belittling others. The term carries a negative connotation and can be offensive if used insensitively. Use alternatives like "take pride in" or "be proud of" in those cases.

What are some alternatives to "gloat about" that don't have negative connotations?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "celebrate", "revel in", or "take satisfaction in" to express pleasure or pride without the negative implication of gloating. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.