plural sadists
: one characterized by sadism : a person who takes pleasure in inflicting pain, punishment, or humiliation on others
a sexual sadist
He's a sadist and, where Toby is concerned, an unusually relentless one: he's in the boy's face constantly, prodding, belittling, taunting.—
Terrence Rafferty
Terrence RaffertyTo the penal colony, the cat-o'-nine-tails was a tool more basic than the hoe. On Norfolk Island, where the camp was commanded by a succession of sadists, there were other forms of torture as well …—Clive James
Clive JamesExamples of sadist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Except instead of treating his toys with kindness and love, like Andy, Bart has more in common with Sid, the sadist next door.
—Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
This juvenile sadist makes a hobby out of humiliation, intimidation, inflicting pain both physical and emotional.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Arthur has all but wasted to away to nothing during his time at the glorified prison, where the guards—led by Brendan Gleeson's jolly sadist Jackie—taunt and physically abuse the inmates.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
When that job ended, he was spared once again—this time because a Gestapo officer named Felix Landau, a sadist with artistic pretensions, enlisted him as his personal lackey.
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for sadist 
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.
Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
This juvenile sadist makes a hobby out of humiliation, intimidation, inflicting pain both physical and emotional.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Arthur has all but wasted to away to nothing during his time at the glorified prison, where the guards—led by Brendan Gleeson's jolly sadist Jackie—taunt and physically abuse the inmates.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
When that job ended, he was spared once again—this time because a Gestapo officer named Felix Landau, a sadist with artistic pretensions, enlisted him as his personal lackey.
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for sadist
Articles Related to sadist
Dictionary Entries Near sadist
Cite this Entry
“Sadist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sadist. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share