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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

If you want to know how you score for dark tetrad traits, you can do the Dark Triad Personality Test and Sadism Test online.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2022

Sadism towards the audience aside, however, the main point of a season premiere on a highly-serialized show like Game of Thrones is to provide the heroes with motivation for their battles to come.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2019

It is absurd to say to a man like Macdonald: "Your punishing is 'nothing but' Sadism."

From A Dominie in Doubt by Neill, Alexander Sutherland

The character of Madame Chantelouve is an attempt, probably the first in literature, to diagnose a case of Sadism in a woman.

From Figures of Several Centuries by Symons, Arthur

But there is no reason to suspect Weismann of Sadism.

From Back to Methuselah by Shaw, Bernard

Related Words

• malice