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
And while swimming, even distance swimming, is hardly monotonous, the longer races have a masochistic side to them.
—Andrew Trunsky, New York Times, 8 June 2024
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.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2024
This mix of guilt, horror, and apprehension is exactly the self-destructive bent of masochistic progressives.
—Armond White, National Review, 20 Mar. 2024
To me, Tommy’s response to trauma is both masochistic and sadistic.
—Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for masochistic 
Andrew Trunsky, New York Times, 8 June 2024
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.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2024
This mix of guilt, horror, and apprehension is exactly the self-destructive bent of masochistic progressives.
—Armond White, National Review, 20 Mar. 2024
To me, Tommy’s response to trauma is both masochistic and sadistic.
—Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for masochistic
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 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share