sadistic

adjective

sa·​dis·​tic sə-ˈdi-stik 

 also  sā-,

 or  sa-

: of, relating to, or characterized by sadism

sadistic fantasies

: taking pleasure in the infliction of pain, punishment, or humiliation on others

a leg … sawed off in sections by a sadistic surgeon

—The New Yorker

For my 41st birthday, an especially sadistic buddy gave me a video of me falling off my skateboard nearly 160 times.

—Bret Anthony Johnston

sadistically

sə-ˈdi-sti-k(ə-)lē 

 also  sā-

 or  sa-

adverb

… in a gangster story realism requires that the hoods kill each other off and do so sadistically.

—Robert F. Moss

Synonyms

• atrocious
• barbaric
• barbarous
• brutal
• brute
• butcherly
• cruel
• fiendish
• heartless
• inhuman
• inhumane
• savage
• truculent
• vicious
• wanton

Examples of sadistic in a Sentence

the troubled youth is being treated by a psychotherapist for his sadistic urges to hurt animals

Recent Examples on the Web

Damien Leone’s ongoing saga about the sadistic murderer Art the Clown continues to defy expectations by raking in huge box-office receipts on small budgets, with much of the success coming from the series’ reputation for nauseating practical effects. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024

As an introductory experience that transitions visitors from the mortal realm to the netherworld of Jimmy Fallon’s sadistic dreams, this sequence feels directly inspired by the famous Stretching Room in the Haunted Mansion. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024

The match seemingly will involve all of the stars who just competed at Crown Jewel, only with a few extra major stars thrown in and the sadistic WarGames structure serving as the playground for the stars involved. —Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Like the best thrillers of this ilk, though, its darkest impulses do not weigh it down but rather give it a sadistic, jet-black comic edge. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above