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; 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

In other hands, a film of such unadorned fatalism might seem useless, an exercise in emotional sadism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

But the sadism is accompanied by a trollish glee that reads far more like a 13-year-old boy's failed attempts at humor than what one would expect from a 53-year-old businessman and father of 12.

From Salon • Feb. 24, 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

If the movie “X” could be described as “Boogie Nights” meets “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” then its prequel “Pearl” feels like watching Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” develop a penchant for sadism.

From Washington Post • Sep. 14, 2022

The world was full of fathers—was therefore full of misery; full of mothers—therefore of every kind of perversion from sadism to chastity; full of brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts—full of madness and suicide.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Related Words

• malice