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
The New YorkerFor my 41st birthday, an especially sadistic buddy gave me a video of me falling off my skateboard nearly 160 times.—Bret Anthony Johnston
Bret Anthony Johnston
sadistically
adverb
… in a gangster story realism requires that the hoods kill each other off and do so sadistically.
—Robert F. Moss
Robert F. Moss
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
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sadistic. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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