sadistic
adjective
sa·dis·tic
sə-ˈdi-stik 
also sā-,
or sa-
: of, relating to, or characterized by sadism
sadistic fantasies
: taking pleasure in the infliction of pain, punishment, or humiliation on others
a leg … sawed off in sections by a sadistic surgeon—
The New Yorker
The New YorkerFor my 41st birthday, an especially sadistic buddy gave me a video of me falling off my skateboard nearly 160 times.—Bret Anthony Johnston
Bret Anthony Johnston
sadistically
adverb
… in a gangster story realism requires that the hoods kill each other off and do so sadistically.
—Robert F. Moss
Robert F. Moss
Synonyms
Examples of sadistic in a Sentence
the troubled youth is being treated by a psychotherapist for his sadistic urges to hurt animals
Recent Examples on the Web
Damien Leone’s ongoing saga about the sadistic murderer Art the Clown continues to defy expectations by raking in huge box-office receipts on small budgets, with much of the success coming from the series’ reputation for nauseating practical effects.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
As an introductory experience that transitions visitors from the mortal realm to the netherworld of Jimmy Fallon’s sadistic dreams, this sequence feels directly inspired by the famous Stretching Room in the Haunted Mansion.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
The match seemingly will involve all of the stars who just competed at Crown Jewel, only with a few extra major stars thrown in and the sadistic WarGames structure serving as the playground for the stars involved.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Like the best thrillers of this ilk, though, its darkest impulses do not weigh it down but rather give it a sadistic, jet-black comic edge.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024
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Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
As an introductory experience that transitions visitors from the mortal realm to the netherworld of Jimmy Fallon’s sadistic dreams, this sequence feels directly inspired by the famous Stretching Room in the Haunted Mansion.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
The match seemingly will involve all of the stars who just competed at Crown Jewel, only with a few extra major stars thrown in and the sadistic WarGames structure serving as the playground for the stars involved.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Like the best thrillers of this ilk, though, its darkest impulses do not weigh it down but rather give it a sadistic, jet-black comic edge.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sadistic
Dictionary Entries Near sadistic
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sadistic. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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