sadist

noun

sa·​dist ˈsā-dist  ˈsa- 

plural sadists

: one characterized by sadism : a person who takes pleasure in inflicting pain, punishment, or humiliation on others

a sexual sadist

He's a sadist and, where Toby is concerned, an unusually relentless one: he's in the boy's face constantly, prodding, belittling, taunting.

—Terrence Rafferty

To the penal colony, the cat-o'-nine-tails was a tool more basic than the hoe. On Norfolk Island, where the camp was commanded by a succession of sadists, there were other forms of torture as well …

—Clive James

Examples of sadist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Except instead of treating his toys with kindness and love, like Andy, Bart has more in common with Sid, the sadist next door. —Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

This juvenile sadist makes a hobby out of humiliation, intimidation, inflicting pain both physical and emotional. —Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024

Arthur has all but wasted to away to nothing during his time at the glorified prison, where the guards—led by Brendan Gleeson's jolly sadist Jackie—taunt and physically abuse the inmates. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024

When that job ended, he was spared once again—this time because a Gestapo officer named Felix Landau, a sadist with artistic pretensions, enlisted him as his personal lackey. —Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sadist

noun

sa·​dist

ˈsād-əst,

ˈsad-

: an individual who practices sadism

Medical Definition

sadist

noun

sa·​dist ˈsād-əst  ˈsad- 

: an individual who practices sadism