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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sadistic
Though Paul Mescal is a terrific actor, his role as an enslaved soldier who fights his way through a corrupt Rome only faintly echoes Russell Crowe, and the combination of Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger as the city’s fey, sadistic emperors are parts that do not equal the sum of Joaquin Phoenix.
—
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024
With only so many hours to live, the captors subject the family to a series of sadistic games that will determine their fate.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024
Epps turned out to be an especially sadistic master.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Jan. 2025
And although her character, the bitter and often sadistic Beth Dutton, may have tired of her surroundings, Reilly told Travel + Leisure ahead of the show's Sunday finale that she'll forever be astounded by the beauty of the show's setting in real life.
—Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sadistic 
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024
With only so many hours to live, the captors subject the family to a series of sadistic games that will determine their fate.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024
Epps turned out to be an especially sadistic master.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Jan. 2025
And although her character, the bitter and often sadistic Beth Dutton, may have tired of her surroundings, Reilly told Travel + Leisure ahead of the show's Sunday finale that she'll forever be astounded by the beauty of the show's setting in real life.
—Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sadistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadistic
Adjective
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Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams endured a brutal season, getting sacked a league-high 68 times in 2024, much of which was attributed to Morgan's coaching.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
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Softening up the schedule in November and December is self-preservation for 18 brutal league games in January and February.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Banek has requested the Illinois Department of Public Health probe the cruel death, also asking that all evidence associated with the case be preserved.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Jan. 2025
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But his cruel divisiveness is deflecting attention from the main event.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The roughest angle to imposter syndrome seems to be a potentially vicious cycle that can ensue.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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Social media lit up with outrage directed toward Jubilee for giving voice to a vicious troll.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 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
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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
-
They are expected to manage the roster with a little more thought paid to player welfare and a little less thought paid to marginal gains and ruthless efficiency.—
Andrew Baggarly,
The Athletic,
30 Jan. 2025
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Here's the idea: Buried deep within Starfleet exists an anonymous, ruthless intelligence agency that operates out of sight of most Federation citizens and Starfleet officers.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
28 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near sadistic
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadistic. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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