sadism
[ sey-diz-uh m, sad-iz- ]
/ ˈseɪ dɪz əm, ˈsæd ɪz- /
noun
Psychiatry.
the condition in which sexual gratification depends on causing pain or degradation to others.
Compare masochism.
any enjoyment in being cruel.
extreme cruelty.
OTHER WORDS FROM sadism
sa·dist, noun, adjective sa·dis·tic [suh-dis-tik, sey-, sa-] /səˈdɪs tɪk, seɪ-, sæ-/, adjectiveWords nearby sadism
Example sentences from the Web for sadism
British Dictionary definitions for sadism
sadism
/ (ˈseɪdɪzəm, ˈsæ-) /
noun
the gaining of pleasure or sexual gratification from the infliction of pain and mental suffering on another person
See also algolagnia Compare masochism
Derived forms of sadism
sadist, noun sadistic (səˈdɪstɪk), adjective sadistically, adverbWord Origin for sadism
C19: from French, named after the
Marquis de Sade
Medical definitions for sadism
sadism
[ sā′dĭz′əm, săd′ĭz′- ]
n.
The act or an instance of deriving sexual gratification from infliction of pain on others.
A psychosexual disorder in which sexual gratification is derived from infliction of pain on others.
Other words from sadism
sa′dist n. sa•dis′tic (sə-dĭs′tĭk) adj.Cultural definitions for sadism
sadism
[ (say-diz-uhm, sad-iz-uhm) ]
Abnormal behavior characterized by deriving sexual gratification from inflicting pain on others. More loosely, sadism refers to deriving any pleasure from inflicting pain. Named after the Marquis de Sade, a French author of the eighteenth century, whose works describe many sexual perversities.