onanism

[ oh-nuh-niz-uhm ]

noun

1. withdrawal of the penis in sexual intercourse so that ejaculation takes place outside the vagina; coitus interruptus.
2. masturbation ( def 1 ).
3. the gratification or satisfaction of one's own needs or desires:

   Choosing to endlessly split hairs about abstractions is little better than intellectual onanism.

onanism

/ ˈəʊnəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. another name for masturbation coitus interruptus

Derived Forms

• ˌonanˈistic, adjective
• ˈonanist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• o·nan·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of onanism¹

First recorded in 1720–30; after Onan, son of Judah (Genesis 38:9); -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of onanism¹

C18: after Onan, son of Judah; see Genesis 38:9

Example Sentences

But this isn’t about that nonsense, which Burr responded to by pointing out that C.K.’s collective acts of indecent exposure and nonconsensual onanism displays cost him $50 million — a few beats after mentioning that he’s self-producing and releasing his material, which has netted him many tens of millions of dollars since.

From Salon

"Harley Quinn" leaves room in its Valentine's Day special to look at the notion of there being someone out there for everything from a variety of angles including the proposal that self-love might be all that a person needs, and in way that has nothing to do with onanism.

From Salon

But while this witless slurry of onanism and conspiracy theories is certainly laughable, it is never, for one second, even remotely funny.

From New York Times

My only relief came from moments of unintended humor, such as when the book warns, like some Victorian sermon against onanism: “Do not dissipate your energies. That way, you will be able to shoot many arrows without tiring.”

From Washington Post

Instead, horseshoe-crab mating is glorified onanism.

From Washington Post