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
But at night, he was described as a sadistic killer who hunted for victims, offering to take their photograph before killing them.
—
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Based on Haro Aso's manga of the same name, the Japanese sci-fi thriller takes viewers to a twisted version of Tokyo where players must survive sadistic games, each related to a suit from a deck of cards.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Likewise, early hints at darker character flaws — like that Edward might become drunk on power or that Rafferty might have a sadistic streak — tend to dissipate as the characters grow or deepen.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
White has dreamed up some very strange and sadistic drills.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Based on Haro Aso's manga of the same name, the Japanese sci-fi thriller takes viewers to a twisted version of Tokyo where players must survive sadistic games, each related to a suit from a deck of cards.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Likewise, early hints at darker character flaws — like that Edward might become drunk on power or that Rafferty might have a sadistic streak — tend to dissipate as the characters grow or deepen.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
White has dreamed up some very strange and sadistic drills.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadistic
Adjective
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This is close and this is intimate, this is brutal and this is hard.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
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The countdown to return the 48 hostages held by Hamas for more than two years and the end to the brutal war in Gaza will officially commence Thursday morning after the Israeli security cabinet and government convene to approve the deal signed overnight.—
Caitlin McFall , Yonat Friling,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This culture is incredibly cruel, and things have gotten really obscene.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
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Supporters of the new laws praised the legislation as a major step toward ending cruel breeding practices and protecting consumers.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Make people laugh and help people out and just keep that vicious cycle of fun going.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
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Some beaches along the East Coast might no longer exist after a vicious storm threatening significant coastal flooding passes through the area this weekend, AccuWeather warned in an email to reporters on Thursday.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Trapped in their Hollywood Hills home, a family must fight for survival as a pack of savage coyotes closes in.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
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McBride sets the political context for Swift’s savage indignation by noting that 1727–1729 saw three successive harvest failures in Ireland.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom — drawing in the ruthless kings of other Scandinavian countries and even a powerful English ruler — the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic and utterly magical new Norse saga.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
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The company is famous for its creative but ruthless approach to cost cutting.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadistic. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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