What does sadism mean?
Sadism names the pleasure or satisfaction associated with causing suffering, humiliation, or harm to another person. In its psychological sense, it can refer to a paraphilic interest in inflicting pain or humiliation; more generally, the word describes behavior marked by deliberate cruelty or a desire to torment others. The term is strongly negative and is commonly used in discussions of violence, abusive relationships, fictional portrayals of cruelty, and debates about human motives. It should be distinguished from masochism, which concerns pleasure derived from experiencing pain or humiliation. Although sadism is sometimes used loosely for ordinary harshness, its stronger clinical meaning is much more specific. The word derives from French sadisme, which in turn commemorates the Marquis de Sade.
nounSadism is the deriving of pleasure from cruelty, suffering, or the infliction of harm on others. In ordinary use, it may also refer to cruel or sadistic behavior.
- The enjoyment or gratification derived from inflicting suffering, cruelty, or humiliation on others.
- Cruel, sadistic, or excessively violent behavior, especially when viewed as a characteristic of a person, group, or situation.
"The novel explores the psychological roots of sadism and the power struggles that sustain it."
"The film depicts the gradual descent into sadism through a series of increasingly cruel acts."
"Her testimony described a pattern of sadism that had been systematically hidden from the authorities."
Rarely used; sadism is normally treated as a mass noun, though plural forms occur in more specialized or theoretical contexts.
"The study compares different forms of sadism found in the characters' behavior."
The word sadism takes its name from the French writer the Marquis de Sade, whose works helped establish its modern meaning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sadism come from?
The English word entered through French sadisme in the early 19th century. It was formed from the name of the French writer the Marquis de Sade, whose reputation for extreme sexual cruelty made his surname the basis of the term. English derivatives include sadist, sadistic, and sadistically, which continue to refer to a person or quality associated with inflicting suffering.
Related word forms
How sadism is actually used
In clinical psychology, sadism can refer specifically to a paraphilic disorder involving recurrent sexual urges to inflict suffering or humiliation. In general usage, it is often figurative and describes extreme cruelty or the apparent enjoyment of another person's distress.
Easily confused with sadism
Sadism involves deriving pleasure from causing suffering, whereas masochism involves deriving pleasure from experiencing pain or humiliation.