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
Examining the real reasons for this is less fun—and, for many, less profitable—than imagining that Hollywood is a front for ritualistic sadism.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 3 June 2025
Zephyr’s girlboss attitude doesn’t offset any of the sadism.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sadism
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 3 June 2025
Zephyr’s girlboss attitude doesn’t offset any of the sadism.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sadism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadism
Noun
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Such rhetoric has fostered a climate where cruelty is normalized.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
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His anguished mother insisted on an open-casket ceremony to show the world the gruesome cruelty of lynching.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The brutality of the Ukrainian frontline The challenges facing foreign volunteer fighters on the battlefield extend well beyond their legal label.—
Rebecca Johns,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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For a long time, the book was consider unadaptable due to its brutality.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sadism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadism. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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