Pronunciation: [sɐdˈɪstɪk] (IPA) 
The word "sadistic" refers to a person who enjoys causing pain or suffering to others. It is spelled with an "s" and not a "c" despite the pronunciation of the ending sound. This is because the word originated from the name of the Marquis de Sade, a French writer known for his explicit and violent works. The spelling was then adapted to reflect the origin of the word. The IPA phonetic transcription for "sadistic" is /səˈdɪstɪk/.
Sadistic is an adjective that describes a person who derives pleasure or gratification from inflicting pain or suffering on others. The term originates from the sexual practices of the Marquis de Sade, a French writer known for his explicit works that involved cruelty, violence, and domination. Sadistic behavior typically involves the deliberate infliction of physical or psychological harm, often accompanied by a power imbalance or control over the victim.
This term is commonly associated with individuals who display a sadistic personality or engage in sadistic acts for their own enjoyment or pleasure. Sadistic tendencies are characterized by a lack of empathy or concern for the well-being of others. Such individuals may derive pleasure from witnessing others' torment or mental anguish.
Sadistic behavior can manifest in various forms, including physical abuse, emotional manipulation, or even the planned humiliation of others. It is important to note that sadistic behavior is considered abnormal and may be indicative of underlying mental health issues, such as sadistic personality disorder.
In popular culture, sadistic characters are often depicted as villains or antagonists, reveling in the pain and suffering they cause. However, it is essential to recognize that sadism should not be confused with consensual activities such as BDSM, where participants engage in role-play and voluntary power dynamics within established boundaries and with mutual consent.
Marked by sadism.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sadistic" comes from the term "sadism", which originally derived from the name of Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade (1740-1814), a French writer and nobleman. De Sade was known for his libertine lifestyle and his writings, which often depicted extreme and perverse sexual practices. Due to the explicit content in his works, his name became associated with sadistic behavior. The term "sadism" was coined by psychiatrists in the 19th century to describe the pleasure or gratification that some individuals experience by inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others. Over time, "sadism" evolved into the adjective "sadistic", which refers to the characteristic of deriving pleasure from causing pain or suffering.
