sadistic

adjective

sa·dis·tic sə-ˈdi-stik

also sā-,

or sa-

Synonyms of sadistic next

: 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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Without the sadistic games going on, the show lacks momentum. —

Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 26 Dec. 2024 As one of the few original Squid Game cast members returning for the second season, Wi Ha-joon will continue his quest as the police officer Hwang Jun-ho, who is desperate to find his missing brother and ultimately wanders into the sadistic games. —

Jeff Benjamin, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 In Babygirl, Samuel is sadistic but also genuinely cares for Romy. —

Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 23 Dec. 2024 Movies that insist on drilling into human pain can become sadistic by themselves. —

Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sadistic