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Est. 1828
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Grammar & Usage Commonly Confused

What is the difference between a masochist and a sadist?

One likes to feel pain. The other likes to cause pain.

A masochist is a person who takes pleasure in their own pain and suffering. Someone who derives sexual gratification from being subjected to physical pain or humiliation is also called a masochist. A sadist is a person who takes pleasure in inflicting pain, punishment, or humiliation on others.

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winsome

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Popular

Commonly Confused

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Canceled' or 'cancelled'?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

'Virus' vs. 'Bacteria'

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

See All

Grammar & Usage

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Hypercorrections: Are you making these 6 common mistakes?

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

See All

Wordplay

Know Your Baseball Terms and Idioms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

See All
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