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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sadism
The Nazis’ sadism is displayed when Lange orders a prisoner to play his violin.
—
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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Trump’s allusions to police brutality – the very thing demonstrators were protesting – only seemed to rile them and underscore what was at stake.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
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The jury has seen his brutality in the harrowing video at the InterContinental Hotel and photographs of her injuries.—
Elizabeth Geddes,
Rolling Stone,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sadism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadism. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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