masochism

[mas-uh-kiz-uh m, maz-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR masochism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Psychiatry. the condition in which sexual gratification depends on suffering physical pain or humiliation.

gratification gained from pain, deprivation, degradation, etc., inflicted or imposed on oneself, either as a result of one's own actions or the actions of others, especially the tendency to seek this form of gratification.

the act of turning one's destructive tendencies inward or upon oneself.

the tendency to find pleasure in self-denial, submissiveness, etc.

Origin of masochism

1890–95; named after L. von Sacher-Masoch, who described it; see -ism

Related formsmas·och·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for masochism

flagellation

Examples from the Web for masochism

Contemporary Examples of masochism

Some might lack the fortitude—or masochism—required to endure a grueling campaign (Rubio).
What Republicans Need Right Now Is a Good Internal Fight
James Poulos
November 6, 2014
(Haaretz) Bennett says anti-leftist-NGO bill doesn't go far enough - 'This masochism has to stop,' says Habayit Hayehudi leader.
Bedouin Relocation Plan Still On Track?
Orly Halpern
December 17, 2013

Historical Examples of masochism

Masochism (association of sexual desire with submission to cruelty and violence).
The Sexual Question
August Forel
Comparing this ideal to real legal practice is an exercise in masochism.
The Civilization of Illiteracy
Mihai Nadin
Moll considers that in some cases mixoscopy is related to masochism.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 4 (of 6)
Havelock Ellis
I suspect that under many of our professed principles there lurk elements of unconscious sadism and masochism.
The Behavior of Crowds
Everett Dean Martin
Perhaps the phenomenon is allied to masochism, since anxiety is to a certain extent painful.
The Sexual Life of the Child
Albert Moll

British Dictionary definitions for masochism

masochism

noun

psychiatry an abnormal condition in which pleasure, esp sexual pleasure, is derived from pain or from humiliation, domination, etc, by another person

psychoanal the directing towards oneself of any destructive tendencies

a tendency to take pleasure from one's own sufferingCompare sadism

Derived Formsmasochist, noun, adjectivemasochistic, adjectivemasochistically, adverb

Word Origin for masochism

C19: named after Leopold von Sacher Masoch (1836–95), Austrian novelist, who described it

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for masochism

"sexual pleasure in being hurt or abused," 1892, from German Masochismus, coined 1883 by German neurologist Richard von Krafft-Ebing (1840-1902), from name of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895), Austrian utopian socialist novelist who enshrined his submissive sexuality in "Venus in Furs" (1869, German title "Venus im Pelz").

masochism in Medicine

masochism

[măs′ə-kĭz′əm]

n.

The act or an instance of deriving sexual gratification from being physically or emotionally abused.

A psychological disorder in which sexual gratification is derived from being physically or emotionally abused.

The act or an instance of deriving pleasure from being offended, dominated, or mistreated.

The tendency to seek such mistreatment.

Related formsmas′och•ist n.mas′och•is′tic adj.

masochism in Culture

masochism

[(mas-uh-kiz-uhm)]

Abnormal behavior characterized by deriving sexual gratification from being subjected to pain. More loosely, masochism refers to deriving any pleasure from experiencing pain. (Compare sadism.)