as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
a troubled youth with a streak of sadism in him
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Recent Examples of sadism
In contrast to most movies about serial killers, this one offers nary a glimpse of violence, let alone any wallowing in sadism.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024
And so our hero crosses paths with his future patron and personal tormentor Harrison Lee Van Buren, who would be a monstrous caricature of capitalism’s worst perversities if not for the softness that Guy Pearce so gingerly laces into his sadism.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2024
Of course, California State University, where websites at campuses like Northridge and San Francisco, among others, sometimes carry similar messages — starting long before the Hamas sadism of last Oct. 7 — has no such policy.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024
Stray Observations: Ashley’s descent into unhinged sadism has been a riot to watch.
—Alex Raiman, EW.com, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sadism 
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024
And so our hero crosses paths with his future patron and personal tormentor Harrison Lee Van Buren, who would be a monstrous caricature of capitalism’s worst perversities if not for the softness that Guy Pearce so gingerly laces into his sadism.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2024
Of course, California State University, where websites at campuses like Northridge and San Francisco, among others, sometimes carry similar messages — starting long before the Hamas sadism of last Oct. 7 — has no such policy.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024
Stray Observations: Ashley’s descent into unhinged sadism has been a riot to watch.
—Alex Raiman, EW.com, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sadism
Thesaurus Entries Near sadism
Cite this Entry
“Sadism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadism. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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