masochism
noun
ˈma-zə-
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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.
Examples of masochism in a Sentence
Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 22 Oct. 2025
And passing the masochism test all Super Bowl quarterbacks must pass, he’s taken the hard hits that a QB must take to complete certain high-stakes passes.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
But as in all cases of masochism, the pain is a kind of pleasure, too.
—The Critic, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
This isn’t really about masochism.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for masochism
Cite this Entry
“Masochism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masochism. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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masochism
noun
ˈmaz-
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