as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
the troubled youth is being treated by a psychotherapist for his sadistic urges to hurt animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sadistic
In the season premiere, it is revealed that one of them, Lindy (Madison Elise Rogers), has assumed the role of lover and trainee in the ways of his sadistic punishment fetish.
—
Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
Pattinson plays Mickey Barnes, who, after getting lured into a bad investment by his shady friend Timo (Steven Yeun), finds himself, in 2054, on the wrong side of sadistic loan shark Darius (Ian Hanmore).
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
Dowd has been a series regular on The Handmaid’s Tale for its entire run, playing the sadistic Aunt Lydia Clements.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Progressives may be soft on crime, but the Biden-Garland Justice Department proved willing to be tough, even sadistic, on pro-lifers.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
Pattinson plays Mickey Barnes, who, after getting lured into a bad investment by his shady friend Timo (Steven Yeun), finds himself, in 2054, on the wrong side of sadistic loan shark Darius (Ian Hanmore).
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
Dowd has been a series regular on The Handmaid’s Tale for its entire run, playing the sadistic Aunt Lydia Clements.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Progressives may be soft on crime, but the Biden-Garland Justice Department proved willing to be tough, even sadistic, on pro-lifers.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadistic
Adjective
-
Conquest is a much more brutal Viltrumite than Nolan.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The avalanche at Tunnel Creek in the Cascade Mountains involved a large group of ski industry professionals and resulted in three brutal fatalities.—
Ashley Thess,
Outdoor Life,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Michael, in a filmed conversation with Grace, claimed that his ex-wife had manipulated him and was cruel to Natalia.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
-
In Season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
At age 55, the director of the vicious South Korean social satire Parasite specializes in adolescent appeal.—
Armond White,
National Review,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Ferran’s Blanche puts up a vicious fight, but Mescal’s Stanley relishes the roughhousing.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
-
The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
-
Whoever sells the most wins a car; whoever sells the least is out of a job – a ruthless environment where each character will do anything to come out on top.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2025
-
The film, inspired by the true story of a ruthless Hawaiian crime boss, promises to be a gripping portrayal of organized crime in the island paradise.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadistic. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share