sadism
noun
ˈsa-
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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.
Synonyms
Examples of sadism in a Sentence
Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
Popular on Variety But Art the Clown takes the concept of enjoying homicidal sadism to new levels of sick-puppy insanity.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2024
That’s a victory made all the more triumphant by the film’s moderately budget (it’s estimated around $3.5 million) and an ambitious commitment to pulling off some all-time theatrical sadism.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Sep. 2024
In contrast to most movies about serial killers, this one offers nary a glimpse of violence, let alone any wallowing in sadism.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sadism 
Dictionary Entries Near sadism
Cite this Entry
“Sadism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sadism. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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sadism
noun
Medical Definition
sadism
noun
ˈsad-ˌiz-
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