A person who derives sexual or erotic pleasure from inflicting pain, discomfort, or humiliation on a consenting partner, or from watching a partner experience those sensations. In BDSM, sadism is the counterpart to masochism and is typically practiced within negotiated scenes rather than as a standalone urge.
Many sadists describe the appeal as lying in the trust and vulnerability a partner offers, not in the pain itself; the reaction of a willing bottom is often the real draw. Sadism shows up across a wide range of practices, from light impact play to more intense psychological or physical scenes, and some sadists are only interested in specific kinds of sensation rather than pain broadly.
Worth knowing: Sadistic play depends on clear prior negotiation of limits, a safeword or signal, and aftercare for both parties, since the physical and emotional intensity can be high even when the pain itself is mild.
Also called: sadism, sexual sadism, top, dom, dominant, consensual sadism, S&M, sadomasochist, sadistic top
