sadistic

adjective

sə-ˈdi-stik How to pronounce sadistic (audio)
Definition of sadisticnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 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 With the franchise’s trademark blend of extreme gore and dark humor, the Evil Dead backstory centers on the ancient Book of the Dead that unleashes supernatural evil forces and twists victims into sadistic, shape-shifting, near-invincible monsters. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadistic
  1. brutal
  2. cruel
  3. vicious
  4. savage
  5. ruthless
Adjective
  • The Braves have Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy atop their catching depth chart, but a brutal injury setback involving veteran backstop Sandy Leon has now forced the organization to seek out another experienced option.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Micron, as well as South Korea's SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics — the world's three major DRAM producers — had competed largely on price, contributing to the brutal boom-and-bust cycles that have long characterized the industry.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • Oleksa watches them from the other end of the camera feed, in the middle of a gnarly interrogation with Kyle and Cruz — the latter silently watching Oleksa go through a cruel facsimile of her own violent recruitment crucible in the first season.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Murder charge 'cruel and unusual,' advocate says Of cases where a child was unknowingly left in a car, about 41% do not lead to criminal charges against caregivers, Rollins said.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • But Roy’s story of Annie (Arjun Raina), a New Delhi architecture student caught in a vicious cycle of failing and repeating his studies, gradually reveals itself as a sharp and poignant portrayal of youth, deftly poised between hope and cynicism.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Lawsuits, bureaucratic battles, boisterously divisive council arguments and vicious social media debates have been part of Bloomfield life for years, and intensified during Danielle Wong’s contentious time as mayor.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • 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
  • The lifestyle mogul made a savage comment about Meghan Markle in a cover story for PEOPLE on Wednesday, calling out her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of savage
Adjective
  • However, claiming his birthright means surviving the Renaissance’s most ruthless rival — his own family, who refuse to accept him.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The higher Arsenal climb, the finer those margins become, and the more ruthless Arteta and Arsenal may have to be.
    — James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruthless

Browse Nearby Words

sadism
sadistic
sadly
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Cite this Entry

“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadistic. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sadistic for Spanish Speakers

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