masochism

[ mas-uh-kiz-uhm, maz- ]

noun

1. Psychiatry. the condition in which sexual gratification depends on suffering physical pain or humiliation.
2. gratification gained from pain, deprivation, degradation, etc., inflicted or imposed on oneself, either as a result of one's own actions or the actions of others, especially the tendency to seek this form of gratification.
3. the act of turning one's destructive tendencies inward or upon oneself.
4. the tendency to find pleasure in self-denial, submissiveness, etc.

masochism

/ ˈmæsəˌkɪzəm /

noun

1. psychiatry an abnormal condition in which pleasure, esp sexual pleasure, is derived from pain or from humiliation, domination, etc, by another person
2. psychoanal the directing towards oneself of any destructive tendencies
3. See sadism
   a tendency to take pleasure from one's own suffering Compare sadism

masochism

1. Abnormal behavior characterized by deriving sexual gratification from being subjected to pain. More loosely, masochism refers to deriving any pleasure from experiencing pain. ( Compare sadism .)

Derived Forms

• ˌmasoˈchistically, adverb
• ˈmasochist, nounadjective
• ˌmasoˈchistic, adjective

Other Words From

• masoch·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of masochism¹

First recorded in 1890–95; named after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836–1895), who described it; -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of masochism¹

C19: named after Leopold von Sacher Masoch (1836–95), Austrian novelist, who described it

Example Sentences

If a person deliberately engages with pain, not because they like the sensation of pain but because they like the sensations that come when the pain ends, I think that qualifies as a flavor of masochism.

From Popular-Science

I think benign masochism is a piece of it, but it’s also the fact that this experience has been associated with the positive, the people they care about in their life, their parents, their siblings.

From Popular-Science

He is the academic father of the theory of benign masochism.

From Popular-Science

As social psychologist Brock Bastian writes in his book about the role of suffering in happiness, “Benign masochism characterizes the enjoyment of the conflict that arises when these simultaneous positive and negative emotions are activated.”

From Popular-Science

If you would prefer to skip this exercise in masochism, we completely understand.

From Washington Post

Some might lack the fortitude—or masochism—required to endure a grueling campaign (Rubio).

From The Daily Beast

The willing masochism of being an England supporter is innate.

From The Daily Beast

(Haaretz) Bennett says anti-leftist-NGO bill doesn't go far enough - 'This masochism has to stop,' says Habayit Hayehudi leader.

From The Daily Beast

This summer, in an act of literary masochism, I read not one but two books about Marco Rubio.

From The Daily Beast

The extension of the masochism-explains-all theory is that there is joy in all of this (well maybe not for Cubs fans).

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps the phenomenon is allied to masochism, since anxiety is to a certain extent painful.

From Project Gutenberg

It may be that the actual advertiser is on the lookout for the energetic instructress; here we have to do with masochism.

From Project Gutenberg

I suspect that under many of our professed principles there lurk elements of unconscious sadism and masochism.

From Project Gutenberg

The spiritual masochism of a woman may lead to depths of cruelty rarely understood.

From Project Gutenberg

We have already mentioned this symptom and have seen the part it plays in some forms of masochism.

From Project Gutenberg