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
With less than a month to go before fans of the Korean thriller are invited back into the deadly arena, the latest trailer for the series teases new sadistic challenges, fresh faces, and Lee Jung-jae‘s Player 456 fighting the game from the inside out.
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Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2024
In a sadistic irony, because Roland’s trial didn’t include any evidence, there was nothing to appeal after he was found guilty.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
Are these two giggling, sadistic despots — a double dose of Commodus, by the more-is-more arithmetic of sequels — the real villains of Gladiator II?
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
The gladiators enter the arena on a boat as a mock sea battle is staged, much to the delight of the sadistic emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sadistic 
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2024
In a sadistic irony, because Roland’s trial didn’t include any evidence, there was nothing to appeal after he was found guilty.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
Are these two giggling, sadistic despots — a double dose of Commodus, by the more-is-more arithmetic of sequels — the real villains of Gladiator II?
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
The gladiators enter the arena on a boat as a mock sea battle is staged, much to the delight of the sadistic emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sadistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadistic
Adjective
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Thousands of prisoners have now been freed, many after decades of incarceration in brutal conditions.Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
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Winter's brutal grip is continuing Friday for millions across the eastern U.S. as temperatures remain well below average.Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to the Dutton ranch.Christian Holub, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024
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Snape is the cruel but complex potions master at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, played by Alan Rickman in all seven Harry Potter films.Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That was confirmed by his patron in Moscow, which supported the regime in crushing what started as a peaceful protest movement during the Arab Spring and became a vicious civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and sparked a refugee crisis.Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024
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Its main proxy, Hezbollah, was crippled by a pager attack on its hierarchy, and then by weeks of vicious airstrikes.Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
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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The techno is deafening, but Walker, who went on these trips herself before starting her career as a cinematographer, dances us through the chaos with ruthless resolve.Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
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Paramount+ In Star Trek lore, Klingons are rugged, ruthless warriors.Carlos Mejia, PCMAG, 3 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near sadistic
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadistic. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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