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
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
What follows is an epic showdown between the Blackledges and Weboys, led by the family’s sadistic matriarch, Blanche (Lesley Manville).
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
The first installment centered on a 13-year-old boy who’s being held in a soundproof basement by a sadistic, masked killer.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 21 Dec. 2025
Sure enough, Andrew starts to play his sadistic mind games with Millie, who eventually manages to fight back and lock him upstairs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Yep, Andrew's a sadistic psychopath.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
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Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
The first installment centered on a 13-year-old boy who’s being held in a soundproof basement by a sadistic, masked killer.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 21 Dec. 2025
Sure enough, Andrew starts to play his sadistic mind games with Millie, who eventually manages to fight back and lock him upstairs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Yep, Andrew's a sadistic psychopath.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadistic
Cite this Entry
“Sadistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sadistic. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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