masochistic
adjective
mas·och·is·tic
ˌma-sə-ˈki-stik 
ˌma-zə-,
also ˌmā-
1
: of or relating to masochism : deriving sexual gratification from being subjected to physical pain or humiliation
… suggests that children whose parents spanked, slapped, hit or threw objects at them may have a greater chance of physically or verbally coercing a sexual partner, engaging in risky sexual behavior or engaging in masochistic sex, including sexual arousal by spanking.—
Sharon Jayson
Sharon Jayson2
: gaining pleasure from pain and suffering
… a physically daring scene that might give even the most masochistic stuntperson pause.—Steve Daly
Steve DalyIt may seem masochistic to devote one's life to the pursuit of a vanishing asset.—Robert O. Paxton
Robert O. Paxton
masochistically
adverb
… certain maddening folks who go through life masochistically seeking to be disillusioned and disappointed.
—Daniel Seligman
Daniel Seligman
Examples of masochistic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To me, Tommy’s response to trauma is both masochistic and sadistic.
—Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The Consumer Guide is one of the great masochistic acts of criticism ever perpetuated.
—Tricia Romano, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2024
Instead, the film locates its heart of darkness squarely in the human world, especially when Chloe gets drawn into a sexualized friendship with Tyler’s buddy, played with deceptive masochistic creepiness by West Mullholland.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024
To voluntarily advertise the minutiae of your life online, and then, in the same breath, defend against the potential backlash—that is the masochistic agony of posting!
—Rachel Sugar, Bon Appétit, 7 Dec. 2023
More than three years after its initial release, the masochistic psychodrama that is Hades still has the gaming community in a kinky stranglehold — so much so that Netflix is getting in on the action.
—Vulture, 11 Nov. 2023
Factor in Lexan polycarbonate windows, thinner carpets, and an almost masochistic lack of luxuries (electric air-con is the only concession to comfort) and the 912c tips the scales at a mere 1,650 pounds.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 11 July 2023
The economy stutters on, hampered by the needless, masochistic consequences of Brexit.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
We were doomed from the start, and our mutual masochistic ways should have been the first clue.
—Heather Weingold, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2023
Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The Consumer Guide is one of the great masochistic acts of criticism ever perpetuated.
—Tricia Romano, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2024
Instead, the film locates its heart of darkness squarely in the human world, especially when Chloe gets drawn into a sexualized friendship with Tyler’s buddy, played with deceptive masochistic creepiness by West Mullholland.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024
To voluntarily advertise the minutiae of your life online, and then, in the same breath, defend against the potential backlash—that is the masochistic agony of posting!
—Rachel Sugar, Bon Appétit, 7 Dec. 2023
More than three years after its initial release, the masochistic psychodrama that is Hades still has the gaming community in a kinky stranglehold — so much so that Netflix is getting in on the action.
—Vulture, 11 Nov. 2023
Factor in Lexan polycarbonate windows, thinner carpets, and an almost masochistic lack of luxuries (electric air-con is the only concession to comfort) and the 912c tips the scales at a mere 1,650 pounds.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 11 July 2023
The economy stutters on, hampered by the needless, masochistic consequences of Brexit.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
We were doomed from the start, and our mutual masochistic ways should have been the first clue.
—Heather Weingold, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'masochistic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near masochistic
Cite this Entry
“Masochistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masochistic. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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