sadomasochism

noun

sa·do·mas·och·ism | \ ˌsā-(ˌ)dō-ˈma-sə-ˌki-zəm

, ˌsa-, -ˈma-zə- \

Definition of sadomasochism

: the derivation of sexual gratification from the infliction of physical pain or humiliation either on another person or on oneself — compare masochism, sadism

Other Words from sadomasochism Example Sentences Learn More about sadomasochism

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Other Words from sadomasochism

sadomasochist \ ˌsā-(ˌ)dō-ˈma-sə-kist

, ˌsa- , -ˈma-zə- \ noun or adjective

sadomasochistic \ ˌsā-(ˌ)dō-ˌma-sə-ˈki-stik

, ˌsa- , -ˌma-zə- \ adjective

Examples of sadomasochism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The minds behind Dark Souls bring you an ultra-polished and somewhat simplified version of the game that brought distilled sadomasochism to consoles. — Popular Science, "Mandatory games for your PS4," 13 Apr. 2020 Their history of consensual acts of bondage, sadomasochism and domination adds an additional complication to the prosecution’s attempt to demonstrate abuse. — Missy Ryan, Washington Post, "‘No one just goes hiking in Afghanistan’: American woman gave birth as a Taliban hostage. Now she seeks to end her mystery.," 23 Aug. 2019 Federal authorities seized thousands of child pornographic images from Mandish’s computers, including hundreds of videos that included images of prepubescent children, bestiality, bondage, sadomasochism and rape, Maloney told the court. — oregonlive.com, "Gaston man who downloaded child pornography sentenced to 8 years in federal prison," 9 Aug. 2019 Police also searched his phone and found visits to a sadomasochism fetish website with discussion threads on kidnapping fantasies, prosecutors have alleged. — Megan Crepeau, chicagotribune.com, "Ex-girlfriend's recordings critical as trial to begin in earnest into disappearance of Chinese scholar at U. of I.," 11 June 2019 Up until the 1980s, S&M (sadomasochism) was classified as an actual mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association. — Gigi Engle, Marie Claire, "7 Things You Didn't Know About "Spanking Therapy"," 4 Aug. 2017 The narratives will converge, but not before traversing a louche landscape of sadomasochism and genital mutilation. — Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, "Review: In ‘The Limehouse Golem,’ Bawdy Limericks and Bloody Corpses," 7 Sep. 2017 Police also searched his phone and found visits to a sadomasochism fetish website with discussion threads on kidnapping fantasies. — Dawn Rhodes, chicagotribune.com, "Family of missing Chinese scholar at U. of I. speaks of pain and uncertainty," 22 Aug. 2017 But the debate over whether the film is a statement of feminist empowerment or masochism — or whether Mr. Verhoeven has forged a new genre: screwball sadomasochism? — Rachel Donadio, New York Times, "‘Elle,’ Starring Isabelle Huppert as a Rape Victim Who Turns the Tables, Rivets Critics," 3 June 2016

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