masochistic

IPA/ˌmæsəˈkɪstɪk/
KK[mˈæsəkɪstɪk]IPA/ˌmæsəˈkɪstɪk/

masochistic — adjective

  • masochisticpositive
  • more masochisticcomparative
  • most masochisticsuperlative

1. describing a person who feels sexual excitement when they suffer physical pain o

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a person who feels sexual excitement when they suffer physical pain or are told what to do by another person; relating to the sexual practice commonly referred to as masochism

Example

Dr. Adina explained that masochistic behaviour in relationships often stems from early childhood experiences.

masochistic behaviour + domain: psychology

The novel's hero has masochistic desires that trap him in painful relationships.

masochistic desires + attributive use

Common collocations
  • masochistic behaviour
  • masochistic desires
  • masochistic fantasies
  • masochistic tendencies
Synonyms
  • submissive

    focuses on yielding to another's control, not necessarily linked to sexual pleasure or pain

Antonyms
  • sadistic

    deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on others rather than receiving it

Grammar Patterns

masochistic + noun

seem/appear + masochistic

find + noun + masochistic

Usage Note

This sense appears most often in clinical psychology texts and discussions of human sexuality. Outside these contexts, speakers usually intend the figurative sense (sense 2).

Common Mistakes

He has masochistic personality.
He has a masochistic personality.
masochistic is an adjective and needs a determiner before the noun.

2. describing behaviour where a person seems to take pleasure in choosing difficult

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing behaviour where a person seems to take pleasure in choosing difficult or painful experiences that other people would naturally try to avoid

Example

Meera called her weekend schedule almost masochistic but refused to cancel any of it.

almost masochistic [self-aware exaggeration]

Three marathons in two weeks seems like a masochistic pursuit for a non-professional athlete.

masochistic pursuit + seems like + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • masochistic streak
  • masochistic pleasure
  • masochistic urge
  • masochistic quality
Synonyms
  • self-destructive

    focuses on causing harm to oneself rather than any element of pleasure or satisfaction

  • self-defeating

    emphasises that a behaviour works against the person's own goals, without necessarily implying enjoyment

  • perverse

    suggests a stubborn or contrary choice that goes against reason, with less emphasis on pain

Antonyms
  • self-caring

    acting in a way that protects one's own wellbeing

  • sensible

    making choices that are practical and beneficial

Grammar Patterns

masochistic + noun

seem/appear + masochistic

find + noun + masochistic

Usage Note

More common in everyday language than sense 1. Often used with a tone of mild surprise or disbelief about someone's life choices. Frequently modified by almost, nearly, or somewhat to indicate the speaker is exaggerating.

Common Mistakes

He is so masochistic, he works twelve hours every day.
He is very dedicated; he works twelve hours every day.
masochistic implies a self-defeating or painful element that a person would be better off avoiding, not merely hard work or dedication.

Word family

  • masochism
    nounC1
  • masochist
    nounC1
  • masochistically
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe choices that seem bad for the person making them, but they emphasise different aspects. Masochistic carries a sense that the person somehow gets satisfaction from the pain or difficulty itself, often with a hint of exaggeration ("cleaning the whole house on Sunday feels masochistic"). Self-destructive focuses on long-term harm, such as someone who repeatedly damages their own health or career. Self-defeating is narrower — it describes actions that block the person's own stated goals, like a student who never submits assignments because of perfectionism. Perverse highlights a stubborn, contrary quality: doing the opposite of what is reasonable just because it is reasonable. For example, a CEO who turns down a profitable deal for no clear reason might be acting perverse, but someone who keeps returning to a partner who mistreats them could be called masochistic or self-destructive.

masochistic ↗self-destructiveself-defeatingperverse

Common collocations

Nouns

  • masochistic behaviour
  • masochistic tendencies
  • masochistic streak
  • masochistic pleasure
  • masochistic quality

Adverbs

  • almost masochistic
  • nearly masochistic
  • somewhat masochistic
  • truly masochistic

Phrases

  • masochistic enjoyment of
  • masochistic attitude toward

Etymology

GermanEnglish

The word comes from Masochismus, a term German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing created in the 1880s. He named it after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, an Austrian writer whose novels described characters who found sexual pleasure in being dominated, hurt, or humiliated. The original German suffix -ismus became the English -ism, leading to masochism, and the adjective ending -ic was added to form masochistic.

First known use

1892

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1