SADISTIC Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

sadistic

adjective

sə-ˈdi-stik

Definition of sadistic

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sadistic Bryant then claims that Cunningham's stance on female sports is comparable to Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem or denouncing the Fourth of July as sadistic. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Whitehead…is at his ironic best, offering a portrait of a more innocent time when viewed from the sadistic chaos of today. — Literary Hub, 28 July 2026 The 76ers didn’t even desperately need him, which makes Myers waltzing into free agency and pulling off this casual heist even more delightfully sadistic. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 July 2026 He was executed for the sadistic death of his wife in front of her teenage son in 1992 in Orange County. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sadistic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadistic

Adjective

Within a span of four months in Fort Worth last year, Watkins and Snellings were killed in similarly brutal attacks in the Near Southside and Historic Southside sections of the city.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Even so, when investor confidence broke in 1997, the adjustment was swift and brutal.

— MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of brutal

Adjective

Your husband merely identified the obvious, most vicious enemy of the people in straightforward terms.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2026
Democrats have little trouble understanding that the right-wing infighting over Carlson is about whether the Republican tent, which already includes racists, nativists, and vicious Islamophobes, is also big enough to include anti-Semites.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

Cole, who has to maneuver his way around 20 savage crew members, each of whom will need to be killed, doesn’t waste a homicidal movement.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
The savage battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa had already demonstrated the ferocity with which Japanese forces would defend their homeland.

— James M. Scott, Time, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of savage

Adjective

He was always destined to follow in the footsteps of another tyrannical, ruthless Don – Michael Corleone.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Ink finds the Sinners star playing ruthless tabloid editor Larry Lamb in Boyle’s retelling of what happened when Rupert Murdoch acquired struggling British newspaper The Sun.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruthless

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sadism

sadistic

sadly

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“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadistic. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sadistic

adjective

Example Sentences

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