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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Recent Examples of sadistic
Grier plays variations on the same sadistic-lesbian stereotype in both films.
—
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
Once, ships had carried slaves across the Atlantic as part of a triangular trade in captives and commodities that connected the international élite to sadistic violence in Africa and the Americas.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
But having two kids fight with each other to try to save their own lives, that’s sadistic.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Stone joins the franchise as the unhinged criminal mastermind Lendina, and told reporters her favorite part of playing a sadistic villain.
—Alex Cramer, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
Once, ships had carried slaves across the Atlantic as part of a triangular trade in captives and commodities that connected the international élite to sadistic violence in Africa and the Americas.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
But having two kids fight with each other to try to save their own lives, that’s sadistic.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Stone joins the franchise as the unhinged criminal mastermind Lendina, and told reporters her favorite part of playing a sadistic villain.
—Alex Cramer, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadistic
Adjective
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Even for those in the North who didn’t care a damn for the four million held in brutal bondage, or those who wanted a soft, conciliatory approach, the war began to take on new and moral meaning.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
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The trailer also showcases several brutal fights, an over-flowing oil emergency at the patch, a car accident, and Cami paying witness to two men taking down a third individual with their guns drawn.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Because of the cruel math of throughput and utilization, over ten days, only three hundred people experienced Blur.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Tamra was awful to Gretchen back then, culminating in the Naked Wasted Party, which was one of the cruelest things to ever happen on Housewives.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Once infected, the body demands even more energy to fend off infection, leading to a vicious cycle.—
Michal Ruprecht,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
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Masked country crooner Orville Peck will keep his face covered while playing Vega, the vicious fighter who uses metal claws as one of his weapons.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This thrilling prequel stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Alyla Browne as young Furiosa, who is abducted by the savage warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) — leader of the Biker Horde — and spends the next decade in captivity plotting her revenge and escape.—
Charlotte Walsh,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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There was a time when loving someone of the wrong gender could result in harassment, arrest or a savage beating.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Hunted by the ruthless crime boss that Don worked for and learned all the boss’s sinister secrets — Perlman plays him — Don has a reason to seek redemption.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
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Witness Alex Hales’ ruthless removal.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadistic. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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