gloatingly; with smug satisfaction
Describes a manner of acting pleased or satisfied, often at someone else's misfortune or in a self-satisfied way. The expression is adverbial and typically modifies verbs of speaking, looking, or behaving.
He talked about his rival's failure in a gloating manner.
She smiled with smug satisfaction.
Also means 'proudly' or 'triumphantly', but 小気味よげに carries a nuance of taking pleasure in a neat or fitting outcome, sometimes with a hint of schadenfreude.
Derived from the adjective 小気味よい (こきみよい), meaning 'pleasantly sharp' or 'neat and satisfying', combined with the suffix げ (indicating appearance or manner) and the adverbial particle に.