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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Recent Examples of sadistic
That might sound like a typically sadistic revenge thriller a la The Glory.
—
Geoffrey Bunting, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
The sadistic Fiend will loom in the shadows and beckon all who pass to let him in.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 July 2025
Along the way, guests will be stalked by the eerie presence of The Fiend, Bray's sadistic alter ego, who looms within the shadows and beckons them to let him in.
—Simon Thompson, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Guests will also be stalked by The Fiend, Bray’s sadistic alter ego.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Geoffrey Bunting, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
The sadistic Fiend will loom in the shadows and beckon all who pass to let him in.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 July 2025
Along the way, guests will be stalked by the eerie presence of The Fiend, Bray's sadistic alter ego, who looms within the shadows and beckons them to let him in.
—Simon Thompson, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Guests will also be stalked by The Fiend, Bray’s sadistic alter ego.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadistic
Adjective
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After being relegated to the bench as his season spirals out of control, shortstop Anthony Volpe returned to the lineup against the Washington Nationals, only for his issues at the plate to reach a brutal new low.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
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Friends can lie, colleagues can backstab, anyone can die in any number of brutal ways.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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As Wallace and Gromit investigate this mysterious thief, their paths cross with the cruel, trigger-happy Lord Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes), who has his own ambitions for the competition and Wallace’s love interest, Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter).—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Auggie isn’t a cruel, withholding bigot, but a stable and loving parent.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That the show is a food-star factory is not exactly in the spirit of the bake-offs that inspired it, which were vicious routs among just-above-average home bakers, for almost no measurable reward.—
Ruby Tandoh,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
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The unique stipulation is the direct result of King's recent, vicious actions against his rival, Myles Borne.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Sweeney stars as Penny Jo, a South Dakota diner waitress with an appealing smile, an ingratiating stammer, a scarf in her hair, and deep reserves of ruthless ambition.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Aug. 2025
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Early in his career, Trump apprenticed himself to Roy Cohn, an unprincipled lawyer who taught the young Donald how to gain wealth and influence through ruthless bullying, profane braggadocio, opportunistic bigotry, baseless lawsuits, lying, and more lying.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadistic. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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