sadism
Pleasure from brutality
Sadism is deriving pleasure—especially sexual pleasure—from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.
The term extends beyond the sexual to describe any enjoyment of cruelty: There was a sadism in how he delivered the bad news.
In clinical contexts, sexual sadism is a paraphilia involving arousal from a partner's physical or psychological distress.
Casual use often describes petty cruelties: The sadism of making employees work Christmas Eve.
Savage, merciless behavior
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- inhumanityExtreme cruelty toward others
- barbaritySavage or cruel behavior
mercilessness · pitilessness · heartlessness · viciousness · savagery · malice · fiendishness · cold-bloodedness
Atypical sexual interest disorder
- SadeSoul vocalist, single name
- devianceDeparture from accepted standards
- pathologyStudy of disease processes
- disorderAbsence of organization
perversion · compulsion · gratification · arousal · psychopathy · antisocial · narcissism · dark triad
Supreme authority held
- subjugationForcing into submission
- controlAuthority to direct
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- humiliationLoss of dignity
degradation · master · submission · slave · bondage · tyrant · oppressor · victim
Erotic power dynamics
- kinkTight twisted spot
- dominatrixFemale BDSM leader
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
- safewordPre-agreed termination phrase
consensual · roleplay · leather · whip · chains · restraints · punishment · power exchange
brutality
Savage, merciless behavior
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- inhumanityExtreme cruelty toward others
barbarity · mercilessness · pitilessness · heartlessness · viciousness · savagery · malice · fiendishness · cold-bloodedness · callousness
paraphilia
Atypical sexual interest disorder
- SadeSoul vocalist, single name
- devianceDeparture from accepted standards
- pathologyStudy of disease processes
disorder · perversion · compulsion · gratification · arousal · psychopathy · antisocial · narcissism · dark triad · empathy deficit
domination
Supreme authority held
- subjugationForcing into submission
- controlAuthority to direct
- powerEnergy transfer rate
humiliation · degradation · master · submission · slave · bondage · tyrant · oppressor · victim · helplessness
BDSM
Erotic power dynamics
- kinkTight twisted spot
- dominatrixFemale BDSM leader
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
safeword · consensual · roleplay · leather · whip · chains · restraints · punishment · power exchange · submissive
- vicesgreed, envy, lust, gluttony, vanity
- criminal psychologycriminal mind, motive, intent, premeditation, psychopath
- malevolencemalevolence, cruelty, viciousness, malice, spite
- kinkdom, domme, submissives, master, slave
- psychosexualitylibido, sexuality, sexual orientation, heterosexuality, homosexuality
- sexual disorderssexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, vaginismus, low libido
sadismcompassion
Concern for others' distress
mercy · masochism · empathy · sympathy · humaneness
sadismkindness
Considerate, caring disposition
tenderness · benignity · gentleness · mercifulness · clemency