sadism

American  

[sey-diz-uhm, sad-iz-] / ˈseɪ dɪz əm, ˈsæd ɪz- /

noun

1. Psychiatry. the condition in which sexual gratification depends on causing pain or degradation to others.

2. any enjoyment in being cruel.

3. extreme cruelty.

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sadism British  

/ ˈseɪdɪzəm, ˈsæ-, səˈdɪstɪk /

noun

1. the gaining of pleasure or sexual gratification from the infliction of pain and mental suffering on another person See also algolagnia Compare masochism

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sadism Cultural  

1. Abnormal behavior characterized by deriving sexual gratification from inflicting pain on others. More loosely, sadism refers to deriving any pleasure from inflicting pain. Named after the Marquis de Sade, a French author of the eighteenth century, whose works describe many sexual perversities.

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Other Word Forms

• sadist
  noun
• sadistic
  adjective
• sadistically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of sadism

First recorded in 1885–90; from French sadisme; see Sade, -ism

Explanation

Sadism means getting pleasure — especially sexual pleasure — from hurting other people physically or psychologically. If you've ever seen the word sadistic, you have a good clue to the meaning of sadism. People who are into sadism love to hurt other people — they enjoy it, especially in a sexual way. Sadism isn't always sexual, though. People in power, like supervisors, teachers, and even bus drivers, are often accused of sadism, because some of them seem to like abusing the people they have power over.

Example Sentences

Feeding this public appetite for sadism has been an animating feature of Noem’s DHS.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

Of course we’ll free the hostages, we hate sadism!

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

Accusing her of cruelty and sadism without any proof, they appeared shortly after the Ukrainian army had liberated Kherson.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2023

Accompanied by Marcelo Zarvos’s somber, dissonant score, “Emancipation” becomes a study in human sadism and endurance, with Smith delivering his French-inflected dialogue through gritted teeth and doleful, pain-weary eyes.

From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2022

I see no vicious glee in her eyes, and not a hint of the sadism I expect.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

Related Words

• malice