sadism
sa·dism
noun \ˈsā-ˌdi-zəm, ˈsa-\Definition of SADISM
1
: a sexual perversion in which gratification is obtained by the infliction of physical or mental pain on others (as on a love object) — compare masochism
2
a : delight in cruelty b : excessive cruelty
— sa·dist \ˈsā-dist, ˈsa-\ noun
— sa·dis·tic \sə-ˈdis-tik also sā- or sa-\ adjective
— sa·dis·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
Examples of SADISM
- <a troubled youth with a streak of sadism in him>
Origin of SADISM
International Scientific Vocabulary, from Marquis de Sade
First Known Use: 1888
Related to SADISM
Synonyms: atrociousness, atrocity, barbarity, barbarousness, brutality, cruelness, fiendishness, heartlessness, inhumanity, inhumanness, cruelty, savageness, savagery, truculence, viciousness, wantonness
Antonyms: benignity, compassion, good-heartedness, humaneness, humanity, kindheartedness, kindness, sympathy, tenderheartedness
Related Words: hard-heartedness, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, unfeelingness; fellness, ferociousness, ferocity, fierceness, grimness; bloodlust, bloodthirstiness, murderousness, sanguineness, sanguinity; cattiness, despitefulness, hatefulness, malevolence, maliciousness, malignity, meanness, nastiness, spitefulness; hardhandedness, harshness, heavy-handedness, oppressiveness
Near Antonyms: tenderness, warmheartedness, warmness, warmth; charitableness, clemency, leniency, mercifulness, mercy, pity
Other Psychology Terms
Rhymes with SADISM
abysm, ageism, autism, baalism, baptism, Birchism, bossism, bruxism, Buddhism, casteism, centrism, charism, Chartism, classism, cubism, cultism, czarism, deism, dwarfism, faddism, fauvism, Gaullism, Grecism, Hobbism, holism, Jainism, Klanism, leftism, lyrism, Mahdism, Maoism, Marxism, monism, mutism, Nazism, nudism, Orphism, priggism, purism, Ramism, rightism, Saivism, sapphism, Scotism, sexism, Shaktism, Shiism, Sikhism, simplism, snobbism, sophism, statism, Sufism, tachism, Tantrism, Taoism, theism, Thomism, tourism, tropism, truism, Turkism, verism, Whiggism, Yahwism
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