sadism

play

noun sa·dism \ ˈsā-ˌdi-zəm , ˈsa- \

Definition of sadism

1 :the derivation of sexual gratification from the infliction of physical pain or humiliation on another person — compare masochism, sadomasochism

2 a :delight in cruelty

b :excessive cruelty

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sadist

play \ˈsā-dist, ˈsa-\ noun

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sadistic

play \sə-ˈdi-stik also sā- or sa-\ adjective

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sadistically

play \sə-ˈdi-sti-k(ə-)lē also sā- or sa-\ adverb

See sadism defined for English-language learners

See sadism defined for kids

Examples of sadism in a Sentence

a troubled youth with a streak of sadism in him

Recent Examples of sadism from the Web

The sadistic Ramsay reaches a new level of sadism by violating his new bride—and forcing Theon to watch—setting off endless internet hand-wringing.

— paul schrodt, GQ, "Every Game of Thrones Nude Scene, Ranked by Whether Anyone Really Needed to Be Naked," 11 July 2017
The acronym BDSM stands for bondage, dominance, sadism and masochism.

— michael tarm, The Seattle Times, "Website in Illinois kidnap case still advises on abductions," 2 July 2017
The files included child pornography involving sadism.

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "Former Miami Country Day School employee pleads guilty to child porn charge," 23 June 2017
Yet the atmosphere of dread that Mr. Fukada tends with such ruthless precision — and more than a little sadism — depends not on creepy camera moves or other visual trickery.

— jeannette catsoulis, New York Times, "Review: In ‘Harmonium,’ a Family Lets the Wrong One In," 15 June 2017
The crowd was utterly enamored with Hadreas, who is an extraordinary performer, slipping between angelic vulnerability, affirmative sadism, and a type of fifties-crooner cabaret.

— jia tolentino, The New Yorker, "Weekly Culture Review: Feist, and Other Refuges from a Tornado of News," 20 May 2017
BDSM is an acronym that stands for any or all of the following: bondage and discipline; dominance and submission; sadism and masochism.

— rose surnow, Cosmopolitan, "BDSM in Popular Culture:," 18 Nov. 2016
That summer, as ISIS retreated toward Syria, the evidence of its sadism was on display nowhere so plainly as in Fallujah.

— National Geographic, "Surviving the Fall of ISIS," 17 Oct. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sadism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

What is the Difference Between the Words masochism & sadism?

Masochism and sadism are both about the enjoyment of pain. Masochism refers to the enjoyment of experiencing pain while sadism refers to the enjoyment of inflicting pain on someone else.

Interestingly, both masochism and sadism are eponymous words. English has thousands of such words, taken from the names of people both real and fictional. Masochism comes from the name of the 19th century German novelist, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. It is unusual in that it began to be used during the lifetime of the man from whom it originated (Sacher-Masoch died in 1895, and masochism had been in printed use since 1892). Sadism comes from the name of the French writer, the Marquis de Sade (1740-1814).

The two words are not only often encountered in connection with one another, they have been combined into a single word, sadomasochism.

Origin and Etymology of sadism

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Marquis de Sade

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1818

See Words from the same year

sadism Synonyms

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

SADISM Defined for English Language Learners

sadism

play

noun

Definition of sadism for English Language Learners

: enjoyment that someone gets from being violent or cruel or from causing pain; especially : sexual enjoyment from hurting or punishing someone

Medical Dictionary

sadism

play

noun sa·dism \ ˈsā-ˌdiz-əm , ˈsad-ˌiz- \

medical Definition of sadism

:a sexual perversion in which gratification is obtained by the infliction of physical or mental pain on others (as on a love object) — compare algolagnia, masochism

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sadistic

\sə-ˈdis-tik also sā- or sa-\ adjective

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sadistically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Biographical Note for sadism

Sade play \sȧd\, Marquis de (Comte Donatien–Alphonse–François) (1740–1814), French soldier and writer. From the time that he was a young nobleman Sade consorted with prostitutes and developed a taste for sexual perversions. He was imprisoned on several occasions for his harsh abuse of prostitutes and gross licentiousness. After arriving at the Bastille in 1784 he began writing erotic novels in which he gave full expression to his sexual fantasies. His most famous novel was The Adversities of Virtue (1787). His works are known for their graphic descriptions of sexual perversions. His last years were spent in an insane asylum at Charenton, where he wrote plays for his fellow inmates to perform. His compulsion for physically and sexually abusing others gave rise to the concept of sadism.