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
Weaving reprises Grace MacCaullay, the blushing bride who was forced to lay waste to her wealthy new in-laws during their sadistic rendition of hide-and-seek.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
Our young hero Spike (Alfie Williams), having abandoned the secluded safety of his island home in the wake of his mother’s death, finds himself at the mercy of this merry band of bloodthirsty pranksters, shepherded by a sadistic Manson-esque leader, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).
—Katie Walsh, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
Our young hero Spike (Alfie Williams), having abandoned the secluded safety of his island home in the wake of his mother’s death, finds himself at the mercy of this merry band of bloodthirsty pranksters, shepherded by a sadistic Manson-esque leader, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
Other characters in the comics included Dilbert’s anthropomorphic megalomaniacal pet, Dogbert; his oblivious manager, known only as Pointy-Haired Boss; his co-workers, Alice, Asok, and Wally; and the sadistic head of HR Catbert.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
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Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
Our young hero Spike (Alfie Williams), having abandoned the secluded safety of his island home in the wake of his mother’s death, finds himself at the mercy of this merry band of bloodthirsty pranksters, shepherded by a sadistic Manson-esque leader, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).
—Katie Walsh, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
Our young hero Spike (Alfie Williams), having abandoned the secluded safety of his island home in the wake of his mother’s death, finds himself at the mercy of this merry band of bloodthirsty pranksters, shepherded by a sadistic Manson-esque leader, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
Other characters in the comics included Dilbert’s anthropomorphic megalomaniacal pet, Dogbert; his oblivious manager, known only as Pointy-Haired Boss; his co-workers, Alice, Asok, and Wally; and the sadistic head of HR Catbert.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sadistic. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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