Synonyms of sadistic

sadistic

adjective

sə-ˈdi-stik 

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

• brutal
• cruel
• vicious
• savage
• ruthless
• murderous
• merciless
• heartless
• inhuman
• barbaric
• barbarous
• inhumane
• brute
• fiendish
• ferocious
• truculent
• oppressive
• atrocious
• hateful
• harsh
• malicious
• pitiless
• butcherly
• wanton
• bloodthirsty
• red in tooth and claw
• grim
• unfeeling
• malevolent
• vindictive
• spiteful
• malignant
• sanguinary
• fell
• hard-hearted
• cutthroat
• draconian
• malign
• sanguine
• nasty
• ironhearted
• catty
• mean
• despiteful
• stonyhearted
• draconic
• heavy-handed
• hardhanded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• benign
• kind
• humane
• compassionate
• warm
• kindhearted
• merciful
• charitable
• good-hearted
• benignant
• lenient
• tender
• tenderhearted
• pitying
• peaceful
• warmhearted
• peaceable
• pacific
• clement

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sadistic

To close out season 5 — and kick off season 6 — Criminal Minds turned to former Pennywise actor Tim Curry to play sadistic serial killer Billy Flynn. — Rachel Labonte, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026

And there was a sadistic streak to the attacks. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026

The historical Barbie is described as very sadistic, physically aggressive — someone who enters a room and strikes people on the head, leaving them unconscious during interrogations. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026

There’s an element of sadistic, John Simonesque glee to his attacks on the personal appearances of actors. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026