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View synonyms for masochism

masochism

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

noun

  1. Psychiatry. the condition in which sexual gratification depends on suffering physical pain or humiliation.
  2. 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.
  3. the act of turning one's destructive tendencies inward or upon oneself.
  4. the tendency to find pleasure in self-denial, submissiveness, etc.


masochism

/ ˈmæsəˌkɪzəm /

noun

  1. psychiatry an abnormal condition in which pleasure, esp sexual pleasure, is derived from pain or from humiliation, domination, etc, by another person
  2. psychoanal the directing towards oneself of any destructive tendencies
  3. a tendency to take pleasure from one's own suffering Compare sadism
“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


masochism

  1. 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 .)


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Derived Forms

  • ˌmasoˈchistic, adjective
  • ˌmasoˈchistically, adverb
  • ˈmasochist, nounadjective
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Other Words From

  • masoch·ist noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of masochism1

First recorded in 1890–95; named after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836–1895), who described it; -ism
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Word History and Origins

Origin of masochism1

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

If a person deliberately engages with pain, not because they like the sensation of pain but because they like the sensations that come when the pain ends, I think that qualifies as a flavor of masochism.

I think benign masochism is a piece of it, but it’s also the fact that this experience has been associated with the positive, the people they care about in their life, their parents, their siblings.

He is the academic father of the theory of benign masochism.

As social psychologist Brock Bastian writes in his book about the role of suffering in happiness, “Benign masochism characterizes the enjoyment of the conflict that arises when these simultaneous positive and negative emotions are activated.”

If you would prefer to skip this exercise in masochism, we completely understand.

Some might lack the fortitude—or masochism—required to endure a grueling campaign (Rubio).

The willing masochism of being an England supporter is innate.

(Haaretz) Bennett says anti-leftist-NGO bill doesn't go far enough - 'This masochism has to stop,' says Habayit Hayehudi leader.

This summer, in an act of literary masochism, I read not one but two books about Marco Rubio.

The extension of the masochism-explains-all theory is that there is joy in all of this (well maybe not for Cubs fans).

Perhaps the phenomenon is allied to masochism, since anxiety is to a certain extent painful.

It may be that the actual advertiser is on the lookout for the energetic instructress; here we have to do with masochism.

I suspect that under many of our professed principles there lurk elements of unconscious sadism and masochism.

The spiritual masochism of a woman may lead to depths of cruelty rarely understood.

We have already mentioned this symptom and have seen the part it plays in some forms of masochism.

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