katagelasticism

kata·ge·las·ti·cism
K5A1T1A1G2E1L1A1S1T1I1C3I1S1M3
/ˌkætəd͡ʒəˈlæstɪsɪzm̩/

noun

Obtaining pleasure from laughing at or mocking others.

“For quotations using this term, see Citations:katagelasticism.”

OriginAncient Greek καταγελαστής →
Scrabble 24
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Meanings

nounkatagelasticism (uncountable)
  1. rareuncountableObtaining pleasure from laughing at or mocking others.

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:katagelasticism.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
ridiculescoff

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκαταγελαστής“mocker”
  2. Englishkatagelasticism

Coined by Willibald Ruch and René T. Proyer, assisted by Christian F. Hempelmann and Sean Harrigan, from Ancient Greek καταγελαστής (katagelastḗs, “mocker”), from καταγελάω (katageláō, “to laugh at, jeer at, laugh down”), from κατά (katá, “downwards”) + γελάω (geláō, “to laugh”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

katagelasticism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/katagelasticism

MLA

“katagelasticism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/katagelasticism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “katagelasticism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/katagelasticism.

Source: katagelasticism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.