Is there a term for a person who gets pleasure out of the misfortune of others?

Schadenfreude, also the title of a song the Broadway musical, Avenue Q.

Misanthrope?

Jerk?

Yep, Schadenfreude. I don’t think it makes people evil. I mean, look at shows like “America’s Funniest Home Videos”, how many of us laugh (even if it’s just a little) when someone trips, falls, or gets accidentally kicked by their kid in the you-know-whats? It’s not a mental illness, it’s just part of being human. It’s easier for people to feel good about themselves if they can see someone make a mistake and laugh about it. Now, I’m talking about when you laugh at, like, J-Lo when she fell during her recent performance or something. When people deliberately cause others misfortune, like hard core, that’s not cool and that is kind of evil.

Schadenfreude is the term for the feeling, but not for the person who has it. Perhaps misogynist?

Misogyny refers to the hatred of women specifically whereas misanthropy refers to the hatred of humanity in general. Misandry is the hatred of men.

@global_nomad Thanks, I thought when I was typing that was the wrong word, but I left it. You are, of course, correct>

Sadist?