as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
a troubled youth with a streak of sadism in him
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Recent Examples of sadism
Still, weapon damage lacks spice — the over-the-top comic sadism and gore that made DOOM Eternal a constant joy is muted.
—
Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
But any idealism he’s held onto is now coupled with sadism.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 5 May 2025
Still, the sadism of the show’s fictional world finds ample comparisons in our own.
—Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025
The incident allegedly occurred between two consenting adults during what appears to be bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism — more commonly referred to as BDSM.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadism
Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
But any idealism he’s held onto is now coupled with sadism.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 5 May 2025
Still, the sadism of the show’s fictional world finds ample comparisons in our own.
—Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025
The incident allegedly occurred between two consenting adults during what appears to be bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism — more commonly referred to as BDSM.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadism
Noun
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Currently there are no comprehensive animal cruelty laws in China, which experts say has created a culture of impunity among cat torturers.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
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That's why the spectacular cruelty with which the cuts were carried out tanked Musk's personal brand and triggered Trump's inexorable decline in approval.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Noun
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But the picture’s cartoonish brutality is cathartic.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
6 June 2025
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Failing to silence his work through restrictions and brutality, the Iranian regime appears to have been resigned to simply ignoring Panahi.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sadism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadism. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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