masochistic

adjective

mas·​och·​is·​tic ˌma-sə-ˈki-stik 

ˌma-zə-,

 also  ˌmā-

1

: of or relating to masochism : deriving sexual gratification from being subjected to physical pain or humiliation

… suggests that children whose parents spanked, slapped, hit or threw objects at them may have a greater chance of physically or verbally coercing a sexual partner, engaging in risky sexual behavior or engaging in masochistic sex, including sexual arousal by spanking.

—Sharon Jayson

2

: gaining pleasure from pain and suffering

… a physically daring scene that might give even the most masochistic stuntperson pause.

—Steve Daly

It may seem masochistic to devote one's life to the pursuit of a vanishing asset.

—Robert O. Paxton

masochistically

ˌma-sə-ˈki-sti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌma-zə-

 also  ˌmā-

adverb

… certain maddening folks who go through life masochistically seeking to be disillusioned and disappointed.

—Daniel Seligman

Examples of masochistic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wiry and wired, Lee, in his almost masochistic willingness to endure pain in service of his cause, calls back to First Reformed’s self-destructive zealot. —Judy Berman, Time, 23 Sep. 2025

Perfidia and Lockjaw’s masochistic power interplay early on, however, unspools less successfully. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025

Duffy gets a distinctive dark clown out of each of them, menacing or masochistic as the case may be. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025

These Emmys were strangely anti-TV at times, with a self-deprecating tone that bordered on masochistic. —Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 14 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

masochist + -ic entry 1, after German masochistisch

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for masochistic

• sadomasochistic