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
The Nazis’ sadism is displayed when Lange orders a prisoner to play his violin.
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Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
Gaiman's representatives have responded to some outlets, claiming the incidents were consensual and instances of practicing BDSM (bondage, discipline/dominance, submission/sadism and masochism).
—Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
David Lynch’s cinematic masterpiece pulls back the curtain on the sadism and malevolence hiding behind the picket fences of middle America.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
All the sadism which the academic Left has tried to make unacceptable to its students will come flooding back.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for sadism
Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
Gaiman's representatives have responded to some outlets, claiming the incidents were consensual and instances of practicing BDSM (bondage, discipline/dominance, submission/sadism and masochism).
—Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
David Lynch’s cinematic masterpiece pulls back the curtain on the sadism and malevolence hiding behind the picket fences of middle America.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
All the sadism which the academic Left has tried to make unacceptable to its students will come flooding back.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for sadism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadism
Noun
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On Tuesday, May 20, the Orange County District Attorney's Office confirmed in a press release that Alejandro Acosta Oliveros was charged with felony animal cruelty and felony theft of a companion animal.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
21 May 2025
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Today, the Trump Administration’s theatre of cruelty toward immigrants can be traced to any number of root causes, including racist nostalgia, economic insecurity, and far-right Christian nationalism.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Set in Los Angeles in 2018, with police brutality and the early stages of the Black Lives Matter movement very firmly part of its zeitgeist, Forever begins with Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) unexpectedly reconnecting at a New Year’s Eve party.—
Ebonie Walker,
Refinery29,
12 May 2025
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The Israeli government is indeed openly promising to commit horrific crimes against Palestinian civilians — brutality even above what the world has seen for the past year and a half.—
Zack Beauchamp,
Vox,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sadism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadism. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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