Schadenfreude

(pronounced shahd-n-froi-duh; "froi" rhymes with "Troy") noun

Definition

satisfaction or pleasure derived from the misfortune of others.
[In German, Schaden = harm; Freude = joy]

Main Example

Many in the U.K., the U.S., and elsewhere have been resentful of Rupert Murdoch's ever-widening reach in the world of media. Witness the huge controversy here in the U.S. during his eventually successful bid for The Wall Street Journal. So, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the extraordinary damage to Murdoch's reputation as a result of the phone hacking scandal in Britain must have been a source of schadenfreude for millions (if not tens of millions) of people worldwide.

Workplace Examples

Yes, Nicole and I have been at loggerheads on just about every proposal that comes up for a vote in this committee, but I am truly saddened at this career setback she has suffered. There is absolutely no schadenfreude at my end: Nicole is extremely talented and I have always had a great amount of respect for her expertise and the value she brings to the company.
Yes, the big smile you all see on my face this morning reflects my plain-for-all-to-see schadenfreude at the news that Jim's unit, which in the past has tried every which way to derail my department's progress, is to be shut down and all its people let go.

Other Examples

during a speech at his Toastmasters club, Park Ten Talkers, this author saying: "For over two decades, I've been tracking the conversational frequency of every high-caliber word in American English, and I can confidently say that the featured word today--schadenfreude--was rarely spoken until the late 1990s. And in recent years, its usage has increased dramatically, perhaps because as more people become familiar with it, the word resonates wildly since it captures an emotion that is one of the elemental characteristics of us humans--drawing a deep satisfaction, even a thrill, at the misfortune and misery of those we don't like."
during a staff meeting at a smartphone manufacturer, the chairperson telling his audience: "Before I move to the next item on the agenda, here is some schadenfreude for you. I've just been informed that our rival firm's stock price has dropped another 20% this morning, thanks to their new smartphone continuing to get negative reviews."
the likely schadenfreude among the many Hugo Chavez-haters in the U.S. over news that the Venezuelan leader is battling serious cancer
You can bet that the August 5 downing of that CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of several Navy SEALs drawn from Team 6, some of whose other members eliminated Osama bin Laden earlier this year, must have been a source of considerable schadenfreude for members of al Qaeda.