Definition

A person who finds pleasure in both giving and receiving pain during sexual activities.

Example

The sadomasochist enjoyed exploring the boundaries of pleasure and pain with their partner.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of someone being a sadomasochist?

Yeah, I've read about it; it’s quite interesting how people have different preferences.

I find it fascinating how some people enjoy both giving and receiving pain.

It really shows how diverse human sexuality can be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sadomasochist → It is formed from 'sado-' (from 'sadism', derived from the name of the Marquis de Sade, who explored themes of cruelty and pleasure) and 'masochist' (from 'masochism', named after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, who depicted pleasure derived from pain). The term describes a person who derives pleasure from both inflicting pain (sadism) and receiving pain (masochism).

Memory Tip

Think of the term 'sado-' relating to cruelty and 'masochist' relating to pleasure from pain. This helps you remember that a sadomasochist is someone who enjoys both giving and receiving pain.

Visually Confused Words